Des Moines, IA Crime Statistics For 2025
Crime Rate In Des Moines, IA Summary
Crime in Des Moines research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to report crime data in Des Moines over the past eight years using the FBI Crime Explorer. Based on the most recently available data released on October 17, 2023, we found the following about crime in Des Moines:
- There were 8,013 total crimes committed in Des Moines in the last reporting year.
- On a rate basis, there were 3,829.5 total crimes per 100K people in Des Moines.
- The overall crime rate in Des Moines is 80.70% above the national average.
- Des Moines ranks #143 safest out of 150 cities in Iowa.
- Des Moines ranks #9,186 safest out of 9,896 cities in the United States.
Because the crime rate is so low in America, we use "per 100,000 people" to make the number a bit easier to compare across locations visually. It's mathematically the same as per capita comparisons and isn't meant to convey that 100,000+ people live in a location.
Additional research about crime in Iowa
- Safest Cities In Iowa
- Most Dangerous Cities In Iowa
- Safest States In The United States
- Safest Cities In The United States
Des Moines Vs Iowa And National Crime Rates
According to the most recent data from the FBI, the total crime rate in Des Moines is 3,829.5 per 100,000 people. That's 80.70% higher than the national rate of 2,119.2 per 100,000 people and 148.67% higher than the Iowa total crime rate of 1,540.0 per 100,000 people.
| Statistic | Count Raw |
Des Moines / 100k People |
Iowa / 100k People |
National / 100k People |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crimes Per 100K | 8,013 | 3,829.5 | 1,540.0 | 2,119.2 |
| Murder | 9 | 4.3 | 2.1 | 5.0 |
| Robbery | 157 | 75.0 | 18.7 | 61.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 1,198 | 572.5 | 187.2 | 256.0 |
| Violent Crime | 1,471 | 703.0 | 243.3 | 359.0 |
| Burglary | 968 | 462.6 | 199.1 | 229.0 |
| Larceny | 4,482 | 2,142.0 | 962.6 | 1,272.0 |
| Car Theft | 1,092 | 521.9 | 135.1 | 259.0 |
| Property Crime | 6,542 | 3,126.5 | 1,296.8 | 1,760.0 |
Des Moines Crime Compared To Iowa Averages
Data Source -- FBI UCR 2024.
Violent Crime Rates In Des Moines
Violent Crimes
Violent Crimes / 100k People
Above The National Average
- There were 1,471 violent crimes in Des Moines in the last reporting year.
- The violent crime rate in Des Moines is 703.0 per 100,000 people.
- You have a 1 in 142.2 chance of being the victim of a violent crime in Des Moines each year. That compares to a 1 in 411.1 chance statewide.
- That's 95.82% higher than the national rate of 359.0 per 100,000 people.
- And 189.00% higher than the Iowa violent crime rate of 243.3 per 100,000 people.
Property Crime Rates In Des Moines
Property Crimes
Property Crimes / 100k People
Above The National Average
- There were 6,542 property crimes in Des Moines in the last reporting year.
- The property crime rate in Des Moines is 3,126.5 per 100,000 people.
- You have a 1 in 32.0 chance of being the victim of a property crime in Des Moines each year. That compares to a 1 in 0.0 chance nationally.
- That's 77.64% higher than the national rate of 1,760.0 per 100,000 people.
- And 141.10% higher than the Iowa property crime rate of 1,296.8 per 100,000 people.
Crime In Cities Around Des Moines
| City | Population | Count Raw |
Total Crime / 100k People |
Property Crime / 100k People |
Violent Crime / 100k People |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ankeny, IA | 76,547 | 909 | 1,187.5 | 1,021.6 | 165.9 |
| West Des Moines, IA | 73,335 | 1,378 | 1,879.0 | 1,714.1 | 165.0 |
| Urbandale, IA | 47,119 | 341 | 723.7 | 634.6 | 89.1 |
| Waukee, IA | 34,520 | 270 | 782.2 | 640.2 | 141.9 |
| Johnston, IA | 24,819 | 205 | 826.0 | 749.4 | 76.6 |
| Altoona, IA | 22,422 | 483 | 2,154.1 | 2,011.4 | 142.7 |
| Clive, IA | 19,124 | 263 | 1,375.2 | 1,166.1 | 209.2 |
| Norwalk, IA | 15,588 | 45 | 288.7 | 179.6 | 109.1 |
| Pleasant Hill, IA | 10,153 | 232 | 2,285.0 | 2,097.9 | 187.1 |
| Windsor Heights, IA | 5,011 | 242 | 4,829.4 | 4,609.9 | 219.5 |
Des Moines SnackAbility
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