Des Moines, IA Crime


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Des Moines, Iowa, has been experiencing higher rates of crime in recent years, with a violent crime rate of 37.1 per 1,000 residents. This is significantly higher than the national average of 22.7. Additionally, the property crime rate in Des Moines is 60.8, compared to the US average of 35.4. This means that residents of Des Moines are more likely to experience both violent and property crimes than the average American. Factors such as poverty, unemployment, and drug use may contribute to the high crime rates in the city. Authorities in Des Moines are working to address these issues and decrease crime in the city to make it a safer place for its residents.

Crime is ranked on a scale of 1 (low crime) to 100 (high crime)

Des Moines violent crime is 37.1. (The US average is 22.7)
Des Moines property crime is 60.8. (The US average is 35.4)

NOTE: Click on the links below to see charts for each crime category.
 Violent Crimes  - Murder  Rape  Robbery  Assault
 Property Crimes  - Burglary  Larceny  Auto Theft
Des Moines, IA Crime History
*Closest City
Year Violent Murder Rape Robbery Assault Property Burglary Larceny Auto
2000367.17.250.3149.4160.26643887.85263.3491.9
2001377.95.544.8150.2177.45975.8655.54811.4508.9
2002389.24.556.7145.4182.66519.9840.65172.3507
2003352446.3143158.66101.27694880.9451.2
2005629.42.656.4150.7419.870731348.15148.8576.1
2006669.13.131.8191.6442.66918.81121.45292.7504.6
2007784.72.195.9200.6486.16112.51085.84473.2553.5
2008676.26.186.9162.24215092.51016.43687.7388.4
2009542.2377.7124337.44414.8929.93123.1361.8
2010529.2351.8110.6363.84835.51109.83360.9364.8
2011522.73.950.4105.6362.85245.51219.13618.6407.8
2012527.53.448.2120.5355.44922.91212.23333.7377
2013494.75.343.4101.7344.348291114.33304.9409.9
2014600.24.341.8128.2425.94245.4906.62921417.8
2015713.9957133.6514.34011.3956.32603.6451.5
2016707.86.166.2150.4485.14199919.12799480.8
2017670.112.933.6167.5456.14413.31099.12734.3579.9
20197126.453.6129.6522.54090.51045.92443.4601.2

   Crime in Nearby Cities
City Violent
per 100k
Property
per 100k
Pop. Miles Data
Year
Windsor Heights, IA265.55,412.64,89752019
Pleasant Hill, IA242.23,420.89,14962017
West Des Moines, IA227.02,305.346,56882016
Johnston, IA127.71,197.820,43582019
Norwalk, IA33.7749.78,99282019
   Crime in Similar Size Cities
City Violent
per 100k
Property
per 100k
Pop. Miles Data
Year
Cedar Rapids, IA257.43,335.6121,1891032019
Davenport, IA594.83,826.5102,7151562019
Independence, MO589.24,654.9108,8791772019
Rochester, MN214.81,881.3100,5891772019
Kansas City, KS773.44,691.1146,3991802015

   Visualize the relationship between violent and property crime in similar size cities.

   Crime by Location

Reviews for Des Moines
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Des Moines is a ok and pretty quiet place but as a teen it could be dramatic because Des Moines do have is fair or violents places to avoid in Des Moines would be the  More

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Dude · 
Over 4 years ago

This city is violent, there are too many gangs especially on the north  More

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Over 5 years ago

Good for the old that like slow pace and cheap buffets. Also good for non-descript mid-westerners that don't like a lot of action. No nightlife or mountains to hike  More

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