The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Iowa

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Iowa For 2025

Next out our list of the most dangerous cities in Iowa is Fort Dodge. A community of 24,502 with a long history of gypsum mining.

Residents are probably prouder of that industry than they are of the amount of disregard for the law that happens in the area. Property crime is just one issue Fort Dodge has. People reported 783 incidents of it in 2024. Burglary, larceny, and the like are just the tip of the iceberg for criminal activity here. What really helped the city earn a spot on this list is the fact that it ranks 12th highest in the state for murder.

As one of the Quad Cities, Davenport has its bright spots, including its location along the Mississippi River and gigantic St. Patrick’s Day parade. Beyond those riverfront views however, there is a darker side to life here.

Personal safety is a serious concern in Davenport. A staggering 400 aggravated assaults took place in the city in 2024. As if that were not enough to rattle you, there were also 108 reports of rape in the area. The Davenport Police Department certainly has its hands full. Let us hope its team of men and women can turn things around soon before crime here gets any worse.

Sioux City is the kind of place that makes you want to double check the locks on your doors. Criminals apparently love to make their way into the homes of others and take what does not belong to them. All those sticky fingers caused the city to rank fourth highest in the state for burglary.

If you manage to avoid a break-in and the disappearance of items from your home, it might be your car that goes missing. Thieves stole 252 of them in 2024. That stat combined with the 2,190 larcenies and 20 incidents of arson make it easy to see why Sioux City is also ranked third highest for property crime.

Des Moines ranks as the fourth most dangerous city in Iowa for 2025.

A large population tends to mean higher crime numbers and Des Moines is no exception. When it comes to the criminal activities you should watch out for in this community, theft ranks high. The city had 4,482 larcenies in 2024. So, you better keep an eye on your valuables while you are out and about in the state capital.

No matter how tired you are after a day of activities in the area, try not to let your guard down once you return home or to your hotel room. Burglary can be a problem here too. In fact, Des Moines is fifth highest in the state for it.

Back when Amelia Bloomer, the famous suffragist credited with popularizing the Bloomer costume, decided to move to Council Bluffs, it was probably a much quieter place than it is now. If she were alive today, the city might not be her first choice. Life in this suburb seems to be going in the wrong direction since it landed the number 5 spot on this list.

That rank among the most dangerous cities in Iowa is just the beginning of the woes for Council Bluffs. You might want to brush up on your self-defense skills if you are going to spend time here. The area is sixth highest in the state for violent crime and 15th highest for murder.

Sadly, your possessions are in nearly as much danger as you are in this city. Council Bluffs also ranks ninth highest for property crime in Iowa. People reported 1,527 incidents of it in 2024.

The Battle of Waterloo took place in 1815. It was Napoleon’s last stand — one of the most important events in modern history. That Waterloo is in Europe, though. This one is in Iowa.

It’s up to you whether you’d rather spend time in Belgium or in the American Midwest. To help you make up your mind: the Iowa version has the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area. But before you decide, keep in mind Waterloo’s not insubstantial crime problem. You might run into the Prussian army at the other Waterloo. But this one has the number 5 highest rate of violent crime in Iowa.

Call up a security company and consider getting a guard dog if you plan to live in Ottumwa. You may need all the help you can get considering that you have a one in 38 chance of being a victim of a property crime here in 2025.

You are actually lucky if you can make it home safely at all in this southern Iowa city. One of the lesser populated places on this list, Ottumwa had its fair share of violent crime in reporting year 2024. To be exact, 100 were reported in the community of 25,185.

Clinton, the eighth most dangerous place to live in Iowa, has a concerning crime rate. With a population of 24,171, Clinton reported 87 violent crimes, including 0 murders, 16 rapes, 7 robberies, and 64 aggravated assaults. Additionally, property crime was a significant issue, with 659 incidents reported.

While these numbers may be alarming, it is important to recognize that things can improve with concerted efforts and community involvement. With its location on the western shore of the Mississippi River and as the easternmost city in Iowa, Clinton possesses unique opportunities for economic growth and enhanced safety measures.

Nestled in the southeastern corner of the state, across the Mississippi River from Illinois, Burlington represents a key urban area in an otherwise rural part of the state. You can visit the local Catfish Bend Casino or head over to the Art Center of Burlington. Or you can delve into the rich local history, including how the Iowa nickname of “The Hawkeye State” derives from the title of a local newspaper.

All this provides great diversions for a day in Burlington. Just make sure you’re home by the time it gets dark. The community also has its share of criminal elements, including the number 21 highest pace of larcenies in the state.

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