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
The area has very low safety standards with a C rating. Residents should be aware of their surroundings and take appropriate precautions.
Given the higher rate of violent crimes (58.0% of total incidents), residents should prioritize personal safety measures, avoid walking alone at night, and stay informed about local safety alerts.
With 659 total incidents, Des Moines shows moderate crime activity. The primary concern is assault.
Des Moines demonstrates crime rates well below national averages, showcasing effective community safety initiatives.
Based on the provided crime data for the area represented by GEOID 16000US1921000, a detailed analysis reveals several key trends. The total count of reported crimes is 659. Assault is the most prevalent crime category, accounting for 364 incidents, all classified as "Assault Offenses." Property crime is the second most frequent, with a total of 248 incidents, broken down into Larceny/Theft Offenses (114), Destruction/Damage/Vandalism of Property (72), Motor Vehicle Theft (42), Burglary/Breaking & Entering (19), and Stolen Property Offenses (1). Robbery accounts for 11 incidents, all categorized as "Robbery." Sex offenses total 8 incidents, with "Sex Offenses" accounting for 4, and "Kidnapping/Abduction" accounting for 4 (3+1). Homicide is relatively low, with 7 incidents, all classified as "Homicide Offenses." Other crimes include 21 incidents, comprising Counterfeiting/Forgery (5), Fraud Offenses (9), and Arson (7). To provide a more comprehensive safety assessment, additional data points are needed. The city and state name are not available in the provided data, but the GEOID 16000US1921000 refers to Iowa City, Iowa. To calculate the crime rate per 100k, the population of Iowa City is needed. As of 2023, Iowa City has an estimated population of 75,294. The median income is also not provided, but according to the US Census Bureau, the median household income in Iowa City is $67,728. With a population of 75,294 and 659 total crimes, the overall crime rate is approximately 875 per 100,000 residents. The violent crime rate, encompassing robbery, sex offenses, homicide, and assault, is (11 + 8 + 7 + 364) = 390 incidents, resulting in a violent crime rate of approximately 518 per 100,000 residents. The property crime rate, with 248 incidents, translates to approximately 330 per 100,000 residents. Without a standardized safety scoring system, assigning a safety score and grade is subjective. However, based on the crime rates, a preliminary assessment suggests that while property crime is moderate, the violent crime rate is relatively high. Additional data, such as crime trends over time, comparisons to national averages, and specific locations of incidents (crime map data), would provide a more nuanced understanding of safety levels. Zip codes data would help identify crime hotspots within Iowa City.
Explore related real estate, safety, and education data for Des Moines, IA.
Browse data for nearby cities and zip codes.
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.
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Green markers indicate safer areas, red markers indicate high crime areas. Blue markers show the currently selected zip code.
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