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West Des Moines, IA has a F safety grade (0/100) with a violent crime rate of 165 per 100,000 — 134% above the national average.
2026 data Free + no signup Authoritative source
West Des Moines, IA Crime Rate & Safety
Free public-data reference page. Cross-checked against the upstream agency, refreshed as new data lands. Cite PlainCrime when you reuse this analysis.
Crime data sourced from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program, covering violent crime, property crime, and individual offense categories. Safety grades reflect a composite analysis of violent and property crime rates benchmarked against national averages. For context on how crime statistics are collected and what they mean for community safety, read our guide to understanding FBI crime data.
Is West Des Moines, IA safe? West Des Moines has a violent crime rate of 165 per 100,000 residents in 2024, according to FBI Uniform Crime Report (UCR) data — 134% higher than the national average and 31% below the Iowa average. The city receives a safety grade of F (High Risk). Property crime rate: 1714.1/100K. Population: 73,335.
FBI UCR Data Snapshot: West Des Moines, IA
West Des Moines, IA — reporting population 73,335 in 2024 — recorded 121 violent crimes and 1,257 property crimes in the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program's Table 8 city-level submissions. The city's violent crime rate works out to 165 per 100,000 residents, while the property crime rate reaches 1714.1 per 100,000. Combining those two rates against national benchmarks yields a composite safety grade of F (High Risk), scoring 0 out of 100.
Within the violent crime count, aggravated assault accounted for 96 incidents, robbery 9, murder 0, and rape 16 in 2024. Property crime splits into larceny-theft (1,079), burglary (84), motor vehicle theft (94), and arson (2). Larceny-theft and other property offenses typically dominate city crime counts, and larceny-theft leads West Des Moines's mix at 78.3% of all Part I offenses.
Against the national violent crime average, West Des Moines runs 134% above the US benchmark, and 31% below the Iowa statewide rate. Translated to per-capita risk, the 2024 figures imply roughly a 1 in 53 statistical chance of being named in a crime report that year, narrowing to 1 in 606 for a violent offense. UCR figures reflect offenses reported to and submitted by local law enforcement and may undercount unreported crime.
Is West Des Moines, IA Safe? Safety Assessment
Based on 2024 FBI crime data, West Des Moines, IA receives a safety grade of F (High Risk) with a composite safety score of 0/100. Violent crime is 134% above the national average, indicating substantially higher risk than most US cities.
Your statistical chance of being a crime victim in West Des Moines is approximately 1 in 53 , with a 1 in 606 chance of being a violent crime victim. The most common crime type is larceny-theft, accounting for 78% of all reported offenses.
Safety assessments are based on FBI UCR reported crime statistics. Actual safety varies by neighborhood, time of day, and individual circumstances. Crime reporting rates differ across jurisdictions.
Safety Overview
Safety Grade
F
High Risk
Score: 0/100
Violent Crime Rate
165/100K
violent crimes per 100K residents
+134% vs US
Property Crime Rate
1714.1/100K
property crimes per 100K residents
+399% vs US
Total Crimes
1,378
reported in 2024
Population
73,335
2024 Census-based estimate
Crime Breakdown (2024)
| Category | Count | Rate /100K |
|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 121 | 165 |
| Murder | 0 | 0 |
| Rape | 16 | 21.8 |
| Robbery | 9 | 12.3 |
| Aggravated Assault | 96 | 130.9 |
| Property Crime | 1,257 | 1714.1 |
| Burglary | 84 | 114.5 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,079 | 1471.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 94 | 128.2 |
| Arson | 2 | 2.7 |
Per-Capita Risk Assessment
Overall Crime Risk
1 in 53
Statistical chance of being a crime victim based on 2024 data
Violent Crime Risk
1 in 606
Statistical chance of being a violent crime victim
These are statistical averages based on reported crimes. Actual risk varies significantly by neighborhood, time of day, and individual circumstances.
Crime Type Distribution (2024)
Larceny-Theft 1,079 (78.3%)
Aggravated Assault 96 (7.0%)
Motor Vehicle Theft 94 (6.8%)
Burglary 84 (6.1%)
Rape 16 (1.2%)
Robbery 9 (0.7%)
Arson 2 (0.1%)
West Des Moines vs Iowa vs National Average
West Des Moines
Violent165/100K
Property1714.1/100K
GradeF
Iowa
Violent238.5/100K
Property1286.3/100K
National Average
Violent70.6/100K
Property343.3/100K
Nearby Cities in Iowa
Compare West Des Moines against neighboring cities in the same state, or use our side-by-side compare tool to benchmark two cities directly.
Des Moines
F Pop: 209,245
Violent: 703/100K
Property: 3126.5/100K
Cedar Rapids
F Pop: 135,363
Violent: 261.5/100K
Property: 2689.1/100K
Davenport
F Pop: 99,926
Violent: 581.4/100K
Property: 3540.6/100K
Sioux City
F Pop: 85,711
Violent: 555.4/100K
Property: 3324/100K
Ankeny
F Pop: 76,547
Violent: 165.9/100K
Property: 1021.6/100K
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the crime rate in West Des Moines, IA? ▼
West Des Moines has a violent crime rate of 165 per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1714.1 per 100,000, based on 2024 FBI UCR data.
Is West Des Moines, IA safe? ▼
West Des Moines receives a safety grade of F (High Risk), with a safety score of 0/100. The violent crime rate is 134% above the national average and 31% below the Iowa average.
What is the population of West Des Moines, IA? ▼
The reporting population for West Des Moines is 73,335 as of 2024.
How many crimes were reported in West Des Moines? ▼
In 2024, West Des Moines reported 121 violent crimes and 1,257 property crimes, for a total of 1,378 reported offenses.
What are the odds of being a crime victim in West Des Moines? ▼
Based on 2024 data, the statistical chance of being a crime victim in West Des Moines is approximately 1 in 53, with a 1 in 606 chance of being a violent crime victim. These are statistical averages and actual risk varies by neighborhood and circumstance.
What is the most common crime in West Des Moines? ▼
The most common crime type in West Des Moines is larceny-theft, accounting for 78.3% of all reported crimes (1,079 incidents in 2024).
Understanding Crime Data
► ► ► ►
Understanding Crime Rates
How per-capita rates are calculated and what they mean
Violent vs Property Crime
Key differences between crime categories
FBI Crime Stats Explained
How the FBI collects and reports UCR data
Crime, Housing & Schools
How safety connects to housing costs and school quality
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Data as of 2024. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program.
Crime rates are calculated per 100,000 population. Not all agencies report complete data. FBI Crime in the United States (CIUS) Table 8. Population figures referenced from U.S. Census Bureau estimates where noted; state-level comparisons cross-check against state UCR programs.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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