Des Moines, IA has safety grade B+, a population of about 215,408, an overall crime rate near 306 per 100k as of 2026. For real estate investors, safety is only half the picture: pair these crime statistics with rental demand and returns to judge whether Des Moines, IA is a sound place to buy. See the investment overview for Des Moines, IA for median prices, rental yield and Pulse Score, or run the numbers in the ROI analyzer.
Des Moines, IA crime snapshot: safety grade B+, violent crime rate 2.00 per 1,000 residents, property crime rate 1.00 per 1,000 residents. Compare nearby zip codes, hotspots, and safety recommendations below.
Moderately Safe
per 1000 residents
Explore related real estate, safety, and education data for Des Moines, IA.
Crime rates are normalized per 1,000 residents based on reported incidents in FBI UCR and local agency feeds. We split incidents into violent, property, and other categories so you can see where the risk concentrates.
The “Safest Zip Codes” section above ranks nearby zip codes by safety score, while the “High Crime Zip Codes” section highlights areas with elevated reported crime in Des Moines, IA.
Crime data is refreshed on a rolling basis as updated reports are published by the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer and partnering agencies.
Combine this crime report with the market overview for Des Moines, IA and the school report linked in the “Related analysis” section to assess both safety and investment fundamentals.
PulseReal’s analysis is built on top of these public, authoritative datasets.
Official UCR crime statistics by state and agency from the FBI.
Population, demographics, housing, and income data from the US Census Bureau.
Encyclopedic overview of the city, history, and notable landmarks.
Housing affordability, fair-market rents, and market reports from HUD.
Local unemployment and employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Bureau of Justice Statistics publications on US crime victimization.
✓ Analyze real estate data ✓ Neighborhood safety ratings ✓ Detailed crime statistics
Disclaimer: All investment decisions involve risks, and the information provided by Pulsereal is for informational purposes only. We do not guarantee any specific outcomes, returns, or profitability. Users are encouraged to conduct their own due diligence and consult with a financial advisor or real estate professional before making any investment decisions. Pulsereal is not responsible for any losses or damages arising from the use of the platform or reliance on the provided information.
Copyright © 2026 Pulse Real LLC.