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C+

Is Storm Lake, Iowa Safe?

Population 11,590 · Safer than 42% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Storm Lake is a smaller community of 11,590 people with a C+ safety grade. Crime runs close to the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 198.2 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,164 per 100K.

Storm Lake Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricStorm LakeIowa AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate348.6332.1363.8
Property Crime Rate1633.62075.01,832.3
Murder Rate7.0--5.7
Assault Rate237.0--268.2
Theft Rate1164.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate232.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC+

198.2 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

349/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC+

1634/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Storm Lake

Violent crime in Storm Lake is close to the national average. The rate of 348.6 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1633.6 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,164 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Storm Lake Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder7
01.2x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault237
088% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery69
01.1x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary202
075% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,164
083% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft232
073% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Storm Lake Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Storm Lake
348.6
State
332.1
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Storm Lake
1633.6
State
2075.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Storm Lake Safety

Is Storm Lake safe?
It depends on where in Storm Lake you are. The city gets a C+ overall, with violent crime close to the national average and property crime close to the national average. Some areas are safer than others.
What is the crime rate in Storm Lake?
198.2 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 348.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1633.6 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Storm Lake safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Storm Lake 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 Storm Lake?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Storm Lake generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Storm Lake police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Storm Lake?
No. Crime in Storm Lake has been trending down, which is good news for the C+-rated city.
How does Storm Lake compare to other cities in Iowa?
Below average for the state. Storm Lake ranks behind about 60% of Iowa cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 0.9x the national rate.
How safe is Storm Lake to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Storm Lake?
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 42th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Storm Lake?
348.6 per 100,000, which is 4% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (237), robbery (69), and murder (7.0) 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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