Top 10 Safest Cities in Iowa

While perhaps best known for its corn and agriculture industry, Iowa should also be known for its natural beauty, state fairs and being the founder of sliced bread. Led by capital city Des Moines, Iowa has a number of growing cities thanks to a more diversified economy.

Ready to move to the Hawkeye State? We’ve compiled a list of the 10 safest cities in the state to help inform your choice.

The Safest Cities & Towns in Iowa

1. Sioux Center

• Population: 7,578
• Violent Crimes: 2 (0.0264 per capita)
• Nonviolent Crimes: 21 (0.2771 per capita)
• Most Common Crime: Larceny and Aggravated Assault

88.18% Below National Crime Rate, 84.37% Below State Crime Rate

Topping the list of safest cities in Iowa is Sioux Center. While there has been urban development, this Sioux County community primarily focuses on agricultural businesses. Residents of Sioux Center can enjoy such amenities as a seven-mile recreational trail throughout the town and a large golf course.

Sioux Center’s recreational trail is seven miles of winding pavement that connects to parks, schools and neighborhoods, according to siouxcenter.org. It runs north to south right through the town, and welcomes people looking to walk and jog, as well as cyclists and rollerbladers. The website also features a map of the trail that users can view.

Ridge Golf Club is another prominent feature of the town: an 18-hole professional golf course that welcomes players of a variety of skill levels. It measures 7200 yards, and a par 71 course that is meticulously maintained. The course was named 2012 Iowa Golf Course of the Year, and on 2019 hosted the Iowa State Amateur Championship.

Sioux Center is home to Dordt University, a private Christian university. It has an acceptance rate of 88 percent, and in Fall 2023 had an undergraduate enrollment of 1692. Education tops the leaderboard of its programs, with 21 percent of its graduates holding a degree in education.

2. Norwalk

• Population: 10,874
• Violent Crimes: 9 (0.0828 per capita)
• Nonviolent Crimes: 90 (0.8277 per capita)
• Most Common Crime: Larceny and Burglary

64.55% Below National Crime Rate, 53.11% Below State Crime Rate

Norwalk is part of the Des Moines metro area and is primarily located in Warren County, with a small portion located in adjacent Polk County. Incorporated in 1900, Norwalk has grown in size as more land was annexed into its territory. Norwalk now has three golf courses and the McAninch Sports Complex, which hosts softball, baseball and soccer events. New construction homes in Norwalk average between $200,000 and $250,000.

3. Eldridge

• Population: 6,406
• Violent Crimes: 6 (0.0937 per capita)
• Nonviolent Crimes: 50 (0.7805 per capita)
• Most Common Crime: Larceny and Burglary

65.96% Below National Crime Rate, 54.98% Below State Crime Rate

Eldridge is named after its founder, Jacob Eldridge, who arrived in the area in the mid-1800s. Despite facing several initial hardships, Eldridge has seen an increase in population over the decades, and houses there average in the mid-$200,000s.

4. Orange City

• Population: 6,199
• Violent Crimes: 8 (0.1291 per capita)
• Nonviolent Crimes: 32 (0.5162 per capita)
• Most Common Crime: Larceny and Burglary

74.88% Below National Crime Rate, 66.77% Below State Crime Rate

Orange City is the county seat of Sioux County. Named after William of Orange, Orange City celebrates its Dutch history, namely through its annual Tulip Festival, which attracts more than 100,000 people each spring. With low crime rates across the board, residents can enjoy the town’s historic architecture and stores with peace of mind.

5. Decorah

• Population: 7,883
• Violent Crimes: 4 (0.0507 per capita)
• Nonviolent Crimes: 84 (1.0656 per capita)
• Most Common Crime: Larceny and Car Theft

56.54% Below National Crime Rate, 42.50% Below State Crime Rate

Decorah, the county seat of Winneshiek County, may be small, but it offers a plethora of things to do, including visiting its multiple museums, touring fish hatcheries and enjoying local parks and rivers. Ready to move to this scenic town? Houses average in the high $100,000s.

6. Johnston

• Population: 21,816
• Violent Crimes: 32 (0.1467 per capita)
• Nonviolent Crimes: 242 (1.1093 per capita)
• Most Common Crime: Larceny and Burglary

51.10% Below National Crime Rate, 35.31% Below State Crime Rate

With a population of more than 20,000 residents, Johnston is one of the largest cities on our list. Located just north of Des Moines, this Polk County community offers more than 40 miles of nature trails and greenery, as well as its popular Jazz in July in the parks. Johnston is also known for having a solid education system.

7. Clive

• Population: 17,913
• Violent Crimes: 14 (0.0782 per capita)
• Nonviolent Crimes: 272 (1.5185 per capita)
• Most Common Crime: Larceny and Burglary

37.84% Below National Crime Rate, 17.77% Below State Crime Rate

Located west of Des Moines in both Dallas and Polk counties, Clive is another larger city on our list, with nearly 18,000 residents calling it home. Incorporated in 1956, Clive is well known for its green belt and nature trails. Twelve hundred acres of land are currently under development for commercial and residential purposes, so now is a great time to check out the city. Clive has more than earned its slogan of “where good things are happening.”

8. Carroll

• Population: 9,920
• Violent Crimes: 2 (0.0202 per capita)
• Nonviolent Crimes: 168 (01.6935 per capita)
• Most Common Crime: Larceny and Burglary

33.28% Below National Crime Rate, 11.73% Below State Crime Rate

The county seat of Carroll County, the town of Carroll is surrounded by natural beauty, including Swan Lake State Park, which features 67 acres of land and water. Carroll also has an affordable housing market, with prices averaging in the low to mid-$100,000s. 

9. Waukee

• Population: 20,359
• Violent Crimes: 31 (0.1523 per capita)
• Nonviolent Crimes: 238 (1.169 per capita)
• Most Common Crime: Larceny and Burglary

48.56% Below National Crime Rate, 31.95% Below State Crime Rate

Incorporated in 1878, Waukee started as a small coal mining community but has grown to a thriving city of some 20,000 residents and was selected by Apple in 2017 as the home for a new data center campus. If you want to learn more about Waukee’s origins, you can visit the Coal Mine Museum located within the Waukee Public Library. 

10. Denison

• Population: 8,304
• Violent Crimes: 15 (0.1806 per capita)
• Nonviolent Crimes: 65 (0.7828per capita)
• Most Common Crime: Larceny and Burglary

62.49% Below National Crime Rate, 50.38% Below State Crime Rate

Denison, the county seat of Crawford County, boasts many activities, including a golf course, eight parks, an aquatic center and athletic leagues. Denison is also home to the only Job Corps facility in the state. If you’re looking to call Denison your home, houses average in the low $100,000s.