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D

Is Urbandale, Iowa Safe?

Population 48,570 · Safer than 17% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

With a violent crime rate below the national average, Urbandale faces real safety challenges. It earns a D grade and ranks below 83% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,863 per 100K.

Urbandale Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricUrbandaleIowa AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate299.1332.1363.8
Property Crime Rate2377.52075.01,832.3
Murder Rate7.0--5.7
Assault Rate207.0--268.2
Theft Rate1863.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate328.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

267.7 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

299/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2378/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Urbandale

Violent crime in Urbandale is below the national average. The rate of 299.1 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2377.5 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,863 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Urbandale Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder7
01.2x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault207
077% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery74
01.2x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary350
01.3x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,863
01.3x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft328
01.0x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Urbandale Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Urbandale
299.1
State
332.1
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Urbandale
2377.5
State
2075.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Urbandale Safety

Is Urbandale safe?
Not especially. Urbandale earns a D with a crime rate of 267.7 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Urbandale?
267.7 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 299.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2377.5 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Urbandale safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Urbandale's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,863 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Urbandale?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Urbandale generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Urbandale police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Urbandale?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Urbandale's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a D grade overall.
How does Urbandale compare to other cities in Iowa?
Below average for the state. Urbandale ranks behind about 77% of Iowa cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Urbandale to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Urbandale?
Bad. A D grade and 267.7 per-thousand rate put Urbandale below 83% of US cities. Violent crime at 299 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Urbandale?
299.1 per 100,000, which is 18% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (207), robbery (74), 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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