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C

Is Johnston, Iowa Safe?

Population 25,065 · Safer than 36% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 25,065, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Johnston earns a C with violent crime close to the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,280 per 100K.

Johnston Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricJohnstonIowa AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate312.3332.1363.8
Property Crime Rate1808.52075.01,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate244.0--268.2
Theft Rate1280.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate214.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

212.1 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

312/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1809/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Johnston

Violent crime in Johnston is close to the national average. The rate of 312.3 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1808.5 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,280 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Johnston Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault244
091% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery42
066% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary245
091% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,280
091% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft214
067% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Johnston Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Johnston
312.3
State
332.1
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Johnston
1808.5
State
2075.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Johnston Safety

Is Johnston safe?
Not especially. Johnston earns a C with a crime rate of 212.1 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Johnston?
212.1 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 312.3 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1808.5 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Johnston safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Johnston has a C grade, so it's not the safest destination, but tourist areas generally see less violent crime than the citywide average suggests.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Johnston?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Johnston generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Johnston police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Johnston?
Crime rates have held steady in Johnston, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C grade.
How does Johnston compare to other cities in Iowa?
Middle of the pack for Iowa. Johnston isn't the safest option in the state, but it's not the most concerning either, ranking around the 44th percentile among Iowa cities.
How safe is Johnston to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Johnston?
Mixed. Violent crime is close to the national average, and property crime is close to the national average. It's not great, but it's not the worst either, landing at the 36th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Johnston?
312.3 per 100,000, which is 14% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (244), 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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