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Crime rate in Des Moines, Iowa (IA): murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers, crime map


City-Data.com crime index in Des Moines, IA compared to other U.S. cities

Crime rate in Des Moines, IA

The 2022 crime rate in Des Moines, IA is 61 (City-Data.com crime index), which is 4.0 times lower than the U.S. average. It was higher than in 34.4% U.S. cities. The 2022 Des Moines crime rate fell by 82% compared to 2021. In the last 5 years Des Moines has seen decline of violent crime and decline of property crime.
See how dangerous Des Moines, IA is compared to the nearest cities:
(Note: Higher means more crime)
Des Moines:

61.1
Windsor Heights:

184.6
Pleasant Hill:

79.3
Urbandale:

59.8
West Des Moines:

146.2
Johnston:

66.8
Norwalk:

34.7
Clive:

143.8
Altoona:

99.8
City-Data.com crime index
Crime rates in Des Moines by year

Type

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022
Murders
(per 100,000)		6
(3.0)		5
(2.5)		8
(3.9)		8
(3.9)		11
(5.3)		9
(4.3)		19
(9.0)		14
(6.6)		28
(12.9)		3
(1.4)		14
(6.4)		33
(15.3)		2
(0.9)		0
(0.0)
Rapes
(per 100,000)		167
(84.9)		118
(58.0)		107
(52.3)		103
(49.7)		93
(44.8)		111
(53.3)		123
(58.5)		143
(67.6)		80
(36.8)		37
(16.9)		121
(55.4)		123
(57.1)		109
(51.2)		20
(9.5)
Robberies
(per 100,000)		244
(124.0)		224
(110.1)		216
(105.6)		249
(120.1)		211
(101.7)		267
(128.2)		281
(133.6)		318
(150.4)		363
(167.1)		71
(32.4)		284
(130.0)		246
(114.3)		165
(77.4)		44
(20.9)
Assaults
(per 100,000)		664
(337.4)		737
(362.3)		741
(362.4)		736
(354.9)		714
(344.3)		889
(426.9)		699
(332.2)		1,026
(485.1)		992
(456.6)		374
(170.5)		1,163
(532.5)		1,119
(519.8)		1,065
(499.9)		247
(117.4)
Burglaries
(per 100,000)		1,833
(931.4)		2,249
(1,106)		2,497
(1,221)		2,518
(1,214)		2,312
(1,115)		1,894
(909.5)		2,014
(957.2)		1,944
(919.1)		2,394
(1,102)		598
(272.6)		2,299
(1,053)		1,930
(896.5)		738
(346.4)		132
(62.7)
Thefts
(per 100,000)		6,170
(3,135)		6,823
(3,354)		7,429
(3,633)		6,938
(3,345)		6,861
(3,308)		6,107
(2,933)		5,489
(2,609)		5,924
(2,801)		5,961
(2,744)		1,651
(752.6)		5,383
(2,465)		5,071
(2,355)		4,582
(2,151)		638
(303.3)
Auto thefts
(per 100,000)		714
(362.8)		741
(364.2)		834
(407.8)		784
(378.0)		852
(410.8)		871
(418.2)		952
(452.5)		1,008
(476.6)		1,267
(583.1)		415
(189.2)		1,345
(615.9)		1,431
(664.7)		1,444
(677.7)		189
(89.8)
Arson
(per 100,000)		55
(27.9)		43
(21.1)		44
(21.5)		51
(24.6)		33
(15.9)		18
(8.6)		39
(18.5)		44
(20.8)		42
(19.3)		22
(10.0)		55
(25.2)		69
(32.0)		27
(12.7)		9
(4.3)
City-Data.com crime index398.3397.5417.3403.5389.1389.6378.9424.0430.2124.3424.2424.7330.561.1

The City-Data.com crime index weighs serious crimes and violent crimes more heavily. Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 246.1. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities.

- means the value is smaller than the state average.
- means the value is about the same as the state average.
- means the value is bigger than the state average.
- means the value is much bigger than the state average.



According to our research of Iowa and other state lists, there were 788 registered sex offenders living in Des Moines, Iowa as of May 14, 2024.
The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Des Moines is 273 to 1.



Violent crime rate in 2022
Des Moines:

78.7
U.S. Average:

219.8

Violent crime rate in 2021
Des Moines:

341.7
U.S. Average:

224.8

Violent crime rate in 2020
Des Moines:

404.8
U.S. Average:

228.2

Violent crime rate in 2019
Des Moines:

399.5
U.S. Average:

219.9

Violent crime rate in 2018
Des Moines:

121.0
U.S. Average:

221.2

Violent crime rate in 2017
Des Moines:

374.4
U.S. Average:

226.2

Violent crime rate in 2016
Des Moines:

398.6
U.S. Average:

227.3

Violent crime rate in 2015
Des Moines:

309.4
U.S. Average:

219.3

Violent crime rate in 2014
Des Moines:

339.5
U.S. Average:

211.1

Violent crime rate in 2013
Des Moines:

278.5
U.S. Average:

214.2

Violent crime rate in 2012
Des Moines:

294.8
U.S. Average:

187.4

Violent crime rate in 2011
Des Moines:

294.1
U.S. Average:

187.1

Violent crime rate in 2010
Des Moines:

299.1
U.S. Average:

195.7

Violent crime rate in 2009
Des Moines:

321.7
U.S. Average:

208.9

Violent crime rate in 2008
Des Moines:

406.0
U.S. Average:

222.5

Violent crime rate in 2007
Des Moines:

377.8
U.S. Average:

229.1

Violent crime rate in 2006
Des Moines:

302.4
U.S. Average:

232.6

Violent crime rate in 2005
Des Moines:

295.8
U.S. Average:

227.0

Property crime rate in 2022
Des Moines:

41.2
U.S. Average:

166.5

Property crime rate in 2021
Des Moines:

278.5
U.S. Average:

157.8

Property crime rate in 2020
Des Moines:

396.8
U.S. Average:

169.6

Property crime rate in 2019
Des Moines:

426.2
U.S. Average:

179.7

Property crime rate in 2018
Des Moines:

120.5
U.S. Average:

190.2

Property crime rate in 2017
Des Moines:

445.0
U.S. Average:

206.4

Property crime rate in 2016
Des Moines:

395.4
U.S. Average:

216.6

Property crime rate in 2015
Des Moines:

389.8
U.S. Average:

221.5

Property crime rate in 2014
Des Moines:

391.3
U.S. Average:

230.8

Property crime rate in 2013
Des Moines:

450.0
U.S. Average:

250.4

Property crime rate in 2012
Des Moines:

466.8
U.S. Average:

267.3

Property crime rate in 2011
Des Moines:

487.0
U.S. Average:

273.5

Property crime rate in 2010
Des Moines:

443.4
U.S. Average:

276.4

Property crime rate in 2009
Des Moines:

397.5
U.S. Average:

285.6

Property crime rate in 2008
Des Moines:

447.1
U.S. Average:

302.2

Property crime rate in 2007
Des Moines:

446.2
U.S. Average:

309.2

Property crime rate in 2006
Des Moines:

480.9
U.S. Average:

317.3

Property crime rate in 2005
Des Moines:

522.6
U.S. Average:

322.3
Murders per 100,000 population
Rapes per 100,000 population
Robberies per 100,000 population
Assaults per 100,000 population
Burglaries per 100,000 population
Thefts per 100,000 population
Auto thefts per 100,000 population
Arson per 100,000 population

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2021, including police officers: 461 (364 officers - 318 male; 46 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.71
Iowa average:

1.76

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2020, including police officers: 464 (367 officers - 325 male; 42 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.70
Iowa average:

1.76

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2019, including police officers: 450 (351 officers - 310 male; 41 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.61
Iowa average:

1.75

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2017, including police officers: 455 (350 officers - 307 male; 43 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.61
Iowa average:

1.70

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2016, including police officers: 446 (343 officers - 298 male; 45 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.62
Iowa average:

1.69

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2015, including police officers: 459 (360 officers - 312 male; 48 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.71
Iowa average:

1.69

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2014, including police officers: 458 (354 officers - 306 male; 48 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.70
Iowa average:

1.70

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2013, including police officers: 475 (366 officers - 313 male; 53 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.76
Iowa average:

1.71

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2011, including police officers: 465 (360 officers - 309 male; 51 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.76
Iowa average:

1.70

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2010, including police officers: 480 (374 officers - 322 male; 52 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.84
Iowa average:

1.75

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2009, including police officers: 480 (373 officers - 321 male; 52 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.90
Iowa average:

1.77

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2008, including police officers: 500 (383 officers - 331 male; 52 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.95
Iowa average:

1.74

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2007, including police officers: 498 (382 officers - 334 male; 48 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.98
Iowa average:

1.73

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2006, including police officers: 491 (373 officers - 329 male; 44 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.91
Iowa average:

1.70

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2005, including police officers: 493 (374 officers - 331 male; 43 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.92
Iowa average:

1.69

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2004, including police officers: 473 (364 officers - 323 male; 41 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.85
Iowa average:

1.68

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2003, including police officers: 480 (355 officers - 317 male; 38 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.79
Iowa average:

1.70

Full-time Law Enforcement Employees in Des Moines, IA
Full-time Law Enforcement Employees
Full-time Law Enforcement Employees - Officers
Full-time Law Enforcement Employees - Civilians

Zip codes: 50309, 50310, 50311, 50312, 50314, 50315, 50316, 50319, 50320, 50321.

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  1. All Cities
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  5. Crime rate in Des Moines, Iowa (IA)