Iowa is commonly seen as an innocuous state with a low rate of criminal activity and safe neighborhoods. In case you are searching for a place to live in Iowa that is safe, there are various small towns and cities in which you may consider settling; most of which boast of low crime rates and high standards of living. We will be going through some results of the safest places in Iowa and include a couple of favorites for the most harmonious existence.
When compiling the list of the safest cities, we compared their property crime and violent crime rates using the information from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting database. In analyzing the information, we concentrated on the cities with populations of over 5000 residents to get a glimpse of some of the small and mid-sized Iowa cities. Several cities on the list are characterized by low crime rates and have had safe ratings for extended periods.
Hudson, Iowa
Rating the highest in terms of safety, the city of Hudson in Iowa stands in Black Hawk County. This town has a population of just around 2,282 people and is one of the safest towns in the country with a very low crime rate. The data obtained from the FBI shows that, in this place, only 4 property crimes were recorded last year. No violent crimes were reported that year, which implies residents of Hudson feel very safe in their neighborhoods. Hudson is deemed safe to live in because of the effects of the community-friendly culture, and the exquisite nature that is endowed with along the Cedar River.
Johnston, Iowa
Other notable quiet towns in Iowa include the Johnston, a Des Moines suburb in Polk County. Johnston is a community with slightly more than 22,400 inhabitants and has remained one of the safest American communities, with a violent crime rate of 0.34 per 1000 per year for the last twenty years. Property crime has also reduced significantly from 171.19 per 1,000 in 1999 to 8.33 per 1,000 since the year 2000. Johnston provides the convenience of being located just minutes from Iowa’s largest metro area, along with the added security of being a small town that has established itself as family-orientated. Another advantage attributed to the Johnston school district is its ranking which is also high.
Waukee, Iowa
Waukee also lies in Dallas County just right outside of Des Moines and makes our list because it has experienced significant populace expansion in recent years and maintains low crime rates. Currently, it boasts a population of about 24,000 people, and according to the ranking of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, Waukee took 12th place in terms of growth rates from 2018 to 2019. Yet, even with all the change and fresh construction, Waukee saw a mere 7 violent crimes in the entire year of 2021. But even for property crimes, the figures are still low compared to the national average of 13 per 1,000 people. New parks, walking trails, sports complexes, and a preferred business area add to its suitability for families who wish to relocate to Waukee.
Ames, Iowa
Ames situated in Story County is a safe college city with a low crime rate based on the population density of nearly 70,000 residents, which includes students of Iowa State University. The average rate of violent crime in Ames has been 210 total incidents per year in the last 20 years with no individual year having more than 280 overall violent crime incidences. Property crime is also less than the national average at below 25 per 1000 people for a city its size and a college town. Ames offers many cultural activities in addition to a small-town touch and the feeling of belonging to a close-knit community that puts it as one of the best places to live.
Ankeny, Iowa
Last, and most importantly, Ankeny in Polk County has also been experiencing rapid population growth due to the construction of new suburban houses for families while the crime rates in this Des Moines metro city are very low and decreasing. Currently, about 70,000 inhabitants live in Ankeny; the crime rate shows a decrease in property crimes over the last 10 years to 10.8 per thousand in 2021. Violent crime is rare in the city, with 0.57 incidents per 1,000 residents in 2021. This friendly community with excellent schools and playgrounds is considered to be a perfect combination of city opportunities and country quiet. Being one of Iowa’s growth hub cities, the subject emphasizes safe development to address safe habitation today and in the future.
All in all, it is quite justified that Iowa is referred to as the ‘peaceful Midwest state,’ as many cities in the state are characterized by low crime rates in multiple years and emphasize the quality of life instead. These include Hudson, Johnston, Waukee, Ames, and Ankeny as highlighted in this post; they are good examples of small cities and towns to live in Iowa with less worry over personal safety and comfort. Searching for neighborhoods that are smaller, more suburban, or even rural can help one capture the laid-back atmosphere and friendly people that make Iowa such a perfect place to call home.
