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Safest Cities in Iowa (2026 Rankings)

Updated October 2026 · Based on 2024 FBI UCR data

Le Mars is the safest city in Iowa with a crime rate of 18.8 per 1,000 residents, earning a B safety grade. Pleasant Hill (19.2/1K) and Storm Lake (19.5/1K) round out the top three. Rankings based on 41 cities with 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Avg Crime Rate
23.1per 1K
Below National Avg
14of 41 cities
Above National Avg
27of 41 cities

All 41 Cities Ranked by Safety

#CityGradeCrime/1K
1Le Mars
B
18.8
2Pleasant Hill
B-
19.2
3Storm Lake
B-
19.5
4Carroll
B-
19.6
5Norwalk
B-
19.8
6Boone
B-
20.1
7Johnston
B-
20.6
8Clive
B-
21.3
9Waterloo
B-
21.4
10Waverly
B-
21.4
11Dubuque
B-
21.6
12Ottumwa
B-
21.6
13Spencer
B-
21.6
14Ames
B-
21.9
15Burlington
B-
22.1
16Clinton
B-
22.3
17West Des Moines
B-
22.4
18Grimes
B-
23
19Mason City
C+
23.3
20Oskaloosa
C+
23.3
21Indianola
C+
23.9
22Marshalltown
C+
24
23Pella
C+
24
24Coralville
C+
24.1
25Marion
C+
24.3
26Newton
C+
24.3
27Fort Dodge
C+
24.5
28Cedar Rapids
C+
24.6
29Sioux City
C+
24.6
30North Liberty
C+
24.6
31Davenport
C+
24.7
32Iowa City
C+
24.8
33Cedar Falls
C+
24.9
34Altoona
C+
25
35Muscatine
C+
25.1
36Des Moines
C+
25.4
37Urbandale
C+
25.4
38Council Bluffs
C+
25.5
39Waukee
C+
25.6
40Ankeny
C+
25.8
41Bettendorf
C+
26.1

Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Most Dangerous Cities in Iowa

The highest crime rates among tracked cities in Iowa. These cities have the most crime per capita based on FBI data.

1
C+
Bettendorf26.1/1K · Moderate · Violent: 408/100K
2
C+
Ankeny25.8/1K · Moderate · Violent: 462/100K
3
C+
Waukee25.6/1K · Moderate · Violent: 348/100K
4
C+
Council Bluffs25.5/1K · Moderate · Violent: 366/100K
5
C+
Urbandale25.4/1K · Moderate · Violent: 368/100K

Frequently Asked Questions About Safety in Iowa

What is the safest city in Iowa?
As of 2026, Le Mars is the safest city in Iowa with a crime rate of 18.8 per 1,000 residents and a B safety grade. It ranks above 61% of all US cities.
What are the top 10 safest cities in Iowa?
Based on 2026 FBI Uniform Crime Report data, the top 10 safest cities in Iowa based on crime rate are: Le Mars, Pleasant Hill, Storm Lake, Carroll, Norwalk, Boone, Johnston, Clive, Waterloo, Waverly.
What is the most dangerous city in Iowa?
Bettendorf has the highest crime rate in Iowa at 26.1 per 1,000 residents, earning a C+ safety grade.
What is the average crime rate in Iowa?
The average crime rate across 41 tracked cities in Iowa is 23.1 per 1,000 residents. The average violent crime rate is 389 per 100K and property crime averages 1919 per 100K.
Is Iowa safe to live in?
Iowa has a higher-than-average violent crime rate at 389 per 100K (national: 363.8). However, safety varies widely by city. Le Mars earns a B while Bettendorf gets a C+. 14 of 41 cities have crime rates at or below the national average.
How many cities are ranked in Iowa?
41 cities in Iowa are ranked using FBI Uniform Crime Report data. 14 have crime rates at or below the national average.
See 2027 rankings for Iowa →View all Iowa city safety gradesSafety index for all 50 states

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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