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Safest Cities in Iowa

Top 86 cities ranked by safest cities

Safest Cities — Iowa

1 Orange City 16/100K
2 Polk City 20/100K
3 Eldridge 29/100K
4 Norwalk 34/100K
5 Sioux Center 39/100K
6 Clive 40/100K
7 Waukee 62/100K
8 Urbandale 63/100K
9 Spencer 64/100K
10 Carroll 92/100K
11 Fairfield 95/100K
12 Pella 97/100K
13 Charles City 109/100K
14 Ankeny 109/100K
15 Pleasant Hill 109/100K
16 Altoona 119/100K
17 Bondurant 119/100K
18 Decorah 120/100K
19 Cedar Falls 122/100K
20 Bettendorf 124/100K
21 Anamosa 126/100K
22 Johnston 128/100K
23 Mount Pleasant 137/100K
24 DeWitt 155/100K
25 Estherville 160/100K
26 Knoxville 164/100K
27 Marion 167/100K
28 Sergeant Bluff 180/100K
29 West Des Moines 186/100K
30 Dubuque 190/100K
31 Muscatine 197/100K
32 Ames 198/100K
33 Grimes 198/100K
34 Manchester 202/100K
35 Adel 214/100K
36 Iowa City 216/100K
37 Winterset 217/100K
38 Iowa Falls 220/100K
39 Denison 226/100K
40 Centerville 238/100K
41 Le Mars 240/100K
42 Asbury 248/100K
43 Maquoketa 251/100K
44 Cedar Rapids 257/100K
45 Windsor Heights 266/100K
46 Perry 270/100K
47 Sheldon 276/100K
48 Boone 289/100K
49 Cherokee 291/100K
50 Oelwein 306/100K
51 Clinton 308/100K
52 Coralville 313/100K
53 Creston 334/100K
54 Atlantic 338/100K
55 Tiffin 345/100K
56 North Liberty 349/100K
57 Independence 361/100K
58 Newton 364/100K
59 Hiawatha 376/100K
60 Algona 388/100K
61 Marshalltown 389/100K
62 Storm Lake 393/100K
63 Clear Lake 410/100K
64 Nevada 415/100K
65 Webster City 416/100K
66 Grinnell 418/100K
67 Fort Dodge 421/100K
68 Waverly 432/100K
69 Sioux City 445/100K
70 Clarinda 448/100K
71 Waterloo 452/100K
72 Osceola 459/100K
73 Oskaloosa 473/100K
74 Glenwood 489/100K
75 Ottumwa 547/100K
76 Spirit Lake 589/100K
77 Davenport 595/100K
78 Red Oak 624/100K
79 Burlington 629/100K
80 Mason City 652/100K
81 Washington 656/100K
82 Fort Madison 664/100K
83 Indianola 708/100K
84 Des Moines 712/100K
85 Council Bluffs 790/100K
86 Keokuk 873/100K

The safest cities in Iowa have the lowest violent crime rates, making them attractive to families and individuals seeking secure communities. Orange City leads with just 16.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents.

Low crime rates are associated with multiple factors including strong community bonds, well-funded police departments, economic stability, and high levels of education and employment. These cities often have active neighborhood watch programs and community policing initiatives.

Safety is consistently ranked as one of the top priorities for families choosing where to live. The cities on this list demonstrate that low crime and high quality of life often go hand in hand with strong economic conditions and community engagement.

Did You Know?

  • 1. Orange City has just 16.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents — well below the national average of about 4.0.
  • 2. The safest cities tend to have strong economies, high education levels, and active community engagement programs.
  • 3. Property crime rates in these cities are typically low as well, with most ranking below the national average across all crime categories.

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