The 10 Safest Cities In Iowa For 2026

You won't find Sioux Center, Iowa in the middle of a 2Pac song, it's actually quite the opposite: it's safe.

Located in northwestern Iowa, it is one of The Hawkeye State's middle-of-nowhere cities that has made a mark on our safest cities in Iowa for 2026 list: our number one city to be exact.

SIoux Center's gold star qualities like the non-existent number of crimes per 100,000 residents speaks volumes. It's the kind of place that you can sleep safe and sound and leave the doors unlocked while out and about.

Polk City, Iowa, combines many of the benefits of urban and rural living. It's located a half hour's drive outside of Des Moines, the state's capital and its biggest population center. At the same time, Polk City sits along Saylorville Lake, giving residents plenty of access to fishing, hunting, hiking, and other outdoor activities.

The area has another important draw. Polk City also ranks as the number 2 safest places to live in Iowa.

With a population of 6,557 people, Polk City reported just 19 property crimes during the 2024 reference year. The area is equally ideal when it comes to violence. The community suffered only 2 violent crimes over the 12-month period. That gives it a per-capita total-crime rate of 320/100k people.

Orange City is an ideal destination when you are trying to break free from Iowa's urban life.

This city of quaint rustic Iowa beauty is located in Sioux County and provides the backdrop for our fourth safest city in Iowa for 2026.

Don't let the 'quaint' deter you, however. There's lots to do in the OC. The residents here love to tip cows, corn cars, and provide opportunities for people to safely fry anything and everything. That's what we call safe, stress free livin'.

And don't worry about locking your doors here, either. They scored off the charts in low crime and high safety standards.

In Eldridge they love their wide open spaces, their parks, their safe neighborhoods, their beef cuisine, and their trucks with gun racks. We all know nothing says safe like showing' up to the annual 'Moonlight Chase' with your gal by your side and a newly mounted rack, right?

Eldridge is so safe, that the only crime here is a bad haircut or dipping your steak in ketchup. They claim to be more then prepared to show you the good 'ol hometown pride that makes this part of the country famous and safe. We think you should check them out because they are our second safest city in Iowa for 2026.

Asbury, found in Dubuque County of Iowa and part of the Dubuque Metropolitan Area, continues to be a paradigm of safety with its impressive 15th safest position in violent crime rankings. The city's law enforcement and community engagement efforts have notably curbed incidents of murder, rape, and robbery, with only an isolated case of aggravated assault.

Property crime rates also support Asbury's designation as the fifth safest locality in Iowa, with a modest count of 6. Asbury's low 199/100k people crime per capita rate mirrors the effectiveness of its public safety strategies.

In Johnson County, Iowa, the city of North Liberty is recognized for being the seventh safest area in the state as of 2026. This reputation is supported by only 15 violent crimes, including mere 0 murders, and just 86 property crime incidents that year.

Part of the Iowa City Metropolitan Statistical Area, North Liberty has a population of 21,635 and benefits from effective policing by local law enforcement agencies. These factors result in low per capita crime rates, earning the city a ninth safest rank for violent crime and an equally impressive 11th safest rank for property crime across the state.

Norwalk is an affluent city in Warren County and it's our third safest city in Iowa for 2026.

You won't hear guns a-poppin' and see fists flying unless maybe there is a scuffle over a putt on one of their pristine golf courses.

This Des Moines-burb offers a city vibe with a laid back suburban feel. There is a sense of community in Norwalk and education is a top priority. So grab the fam, pack the truck, and get a-movin' soon so you don't miss out any of their safe, family friendly activities scheduled for 2026.

In Decorah they love their proximity to the northeastern Iowa/Minnesota border, their parks, their safe neighborhoods, their corn cuisine, and their Luther College Norses. They are more than deserving of spot 9 on our safest cities in Iowa list.

Decorah is so safe, that the only crime here is a bad haircut or cutting corners at the local Fall corn maze.

If this doesn't make you a "Decorah Believer," check out our story "Best College Towns in Iowa". This Winneshiek County city is the real deal!