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D+

Is Indianola, Iowa Safe?

Population 16,829 · Safer than 22% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Indianola is a smaller community of 16,829 people with a D+ safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 248.6 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,424 per 100K.

Indianola Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricIndianolaIowa AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate306.8332.1363.8
Property Crime Rate2178.92075.01,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate172.0--268.2
Theft Rate1424.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate379.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD+

248.6 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

307/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2179/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Indianola

Violent crime in Indianola is below the national average. The rate of 306.8 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2178.9 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,424 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Indianola Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault172
064% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery42
066% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary288
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,424
01.0x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft379
01.2x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Indianola Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Indianola
306.8
State
332.1
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Indianola
2178.9
State
2075.0
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Indianola Safety

Is Indianola safe?
Not especially. Indianola earns a D+ with a crime rate of 248.6 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Indianola?
248.6 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 306.8 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2178.9 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Indianola safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Indianola's D+ grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,424 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Indianola?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Indianola generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Indianola police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Indianola?
No. Crime in Indianola has been trending down, which is good news for the D+-rated city.
How does Indianola compare to other cities in Iowa?
Below average for the state. Indianola ranks behind about 70% of Iowa cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Indianola to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Indianola?
Bad. A D+ grade and 248.6 per-thousand rate put Indianola below 78% of US cities. Violent crime at 307 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Indianola?
306.8 per 100,000, which is 16% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (172), robbery (42), and murder (4.0) per 100,000.

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View all Iowa city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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