Des Moines, IA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions: Des Moines Crime & Safety

Is Des Moines safe to live in or visit?

Des Moines earns a city-wide Safety Rating of B (Safe), and the data behind that grade is compelling. Across 52 analyzed neighborhoods, 65.4% received an A grade and another 21.2% received a B grade, meaning 87% of all neighborhoods fall into the safe tier. Not a single neighborhood in the city scored a D or F. Standout examples include Ingersoll Park, Brook Run Village, Waterbury, Salisbury Oaks, and Linden Heights — all rated A+, the highest possible grade. For context, the city's overall crime grade is C+, which reflects some concentrated activity in a small number of neighborhoods rather than a city-wide problem. Most residents and visitors exploring Des Moines will find the vast majority of the city to be safe and welcoming.

What is the crime rate in Des Moines, and how does it break down by neighborhood?

Des Moines carries an overall crime grade of C+, but that figure masks significant variation across its 52 neighborhoods. The grade distribution tells a clearer story: 34 neighborhoods (65.4%) earned an A, 11 neighborhoods (21.2%) earned a B, and only 7 neighborhoods (13.5%) landed in the C range. No neighborhoods scored below a C. The areas with the most elevated crime activity — rated C- — include Good Park, Historic East Village, Martin Luther King Jr. Park, and Chautauqua Park, while River Bend holds a C. These represent a small minority of the city. By contrast, high-income neighborhoods like Waterbury (median income: $111,488) and Brook Run Village (median income: $111,296) maintain A+ grades, illustrating a clear relationship between neighborhood income levels and crime rates across Des Moines.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Des Moines in 2026?

Six Des Moines neighborhoods have achieved the top grade of A+, making them the safest areas in the city according to current data. Here is how they compare:

• Ingersoll Park — A+ grade, population 823, median income $96,175
• Brook Run Village — A+ grade, population 445, median income $111,296
• Waterbury — A+ grade, population 2,852, median income $111,488
• Salisbury Oaks — A+ grade, population 1,181, median income $103,434
• Linden Heights — A+ grade, population 424, median income $108,521
• Westwood — A+ grade, population 1,566, median income $106,895
• Greenwood Historic — A+ grade, population 1,087, median income $97,605

Just below the A+ tier, neighborhoods like Watrous Heights (A, income $69,686), Waveland Park (A, income $86,631), and Waveland Woods (A, income $93,910) also maintain strong safety records. Collectively, these neighborhoods represent a broad range of housing options for families and individuals prioritizing safety in Des Moines.

Which parts of Des Moines have higher crime?

Higher-crime areas in Des Moines are limited in number — only 7 of 52 neighborhoods (13.5%) fall into the C tier, and none score below a C. The neighborhoods with the lowest grades are Good Park, Historic East Village, Martin Luther King Jr. Park, and Chautauqua Park, each rated C-. River Bend holds a C grade. It is worth noting that even these neighborhoods have not reached D or F territory, suggesting that crime concerns in Des Moines are relatively contained compared to many U.S. cities of similar size. Residents and visitors who consult the Des Moines crime map can easily identify these pockets and plan accordingly.

Is Des Moines a good place to live based on crime and cost of living?

When weighing safety against affordability, Des Moines presents a strong case. The city's median home value is $140,816 and median rent is $881 per month — both well below national averages — while 87% of neighborhoods are rated B or higher for safety. The median household income of $54,843 provides reasonable purchasing power given those housing costs. The city does carry a poverty rate of 16% and an unemployment rate of 6%, which contribute to the overall C+ crime grade, but those pressures are unevenly distributed. Neighborhoods like Salisbury Oaks (A+, median income $103,434) and Greenwood Historic (A+, median income $97,605) demonstrate that safe, established communities with strong income levels are plentiful. For buyers and renters seeking a balance of affordability, safety, and urban amenities, Des Moines ranks competitively among Midwestern cities.

How does neighborhood income correlate with safety grades in Des Moines?

The data from Des Moines shows a consistent pattern: higher-income neighborhoods overwhelmingly earn A and A+ safety grades. All seven A+ neighborhoods have median household incomes above $96,000 — more than 75% above the city-wide median of $54,843. Brook Run Village ($111,296), Waterbury ($111,488), and Linden Heights ($108,521) are among the wealthiest and safest. Moving down the safety scale, the C-rated neighborhoods tend to reflect areas with greater economic stress. This correlation is not unique to Des Moines, but the city's data makes it particularly clear: of the 34 A-grade neighborhoods, virtually all sit above the city median income. For prospective residents, cross-referencing the crime map grades with neighborhood income data provides a reliable signal for long-term stability and safety.