Iowa City, IA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Iowa City Crime & Safety

Is Iowa City safe?

Iowa City earns an overall city-wide safety rating of A (Very Safe) — a strong mark backed by hard neighborhood data. Of the 43 neighborhoods analyzed, 88.4% received an A grade and another 9.3% earned a B grade, meaning a combined 98% of Iowa City neighborhoods qualify as safe. Not a single neighborhood in the city received a D or F grade. Standout safe areas include Morningside Glendale and Washington Hills, both rated A+, as well as Creekside, Longfellow, and College Green, all rated A. Even the neighborhoods with relatively higher crime activity — such as Grant Wood (Grade B) and Miller Orchard (Grade A-) — remain well above the threshold for concern. By any statistical measure, Iowa City is one of the safer mid-sized college cities in the Midwest.

What is the crime rate in Iowa City?

Iowa City holds an overall crime grade of B- at the city level, while its neighborhood-by-neighborhood safety rating climbs to an A (Very Safe). That distinction matters: the city-level grade accounts for broader metro factors, while the neighborhood grade reflects where residents actually live day to day. Breaking it down by grade distribution tells the clearest story — 38 out of 43 neighborhoods (88.4%) earned an A, 4 neighborhoods (9.3%) earned a B, and just 1 neighborhood (2.3%) landed at a C. Zero neighborhoods scored D or F. The highest-crime area in the dataset, Grant Wood, still only reaches a B — meaning even Iowa City's most active crime zone is objectively a low-crime neighborhood by national standards. Property crime (theft, vehicle break-ins) tends to be more prevalent than violent crime, a pattern common in college towns with high foot traffic and transient populations.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Iowa City?

Iowa City's safest neighborhoods span a range of income levels and community types, which reflects how broadly safety is distributed across the city. Here's how the top-rated areas compare:

• Morningside Glendale — Grade A+, median household income ~$95,500. One of the city's most affluent and consistently safe pockets.
• Washington Hills — Grade A+, median household income ~$103,100. The highest-income neighborhood in the dataset and tied for the top safety grade.
• Bluffwood — Grade A, median household income ~$110,700. Small in population (164 residents) but the wealthiest neighborhood by income and among the safest.
• Shimek — Grade A, median household income ~$77,600. A mid-sized neighborhood with strong safety performance.
• Creekside — Grade A, median household income ~$49,700. Demonstrates that safety in Iowa City isn't limited to high-income areas.
• Manville Heights — Grade A, median household income ~$46,000. Another example of a moderate-income neighborhood with excellent safety metrics.
• Longfellow — Grade A, population 5,324. One of the larger safe neighborhoods, suggesting safety scales well even in more populated areas.
• The University of Iowa — Grade A, despite a high student density and lower median income (~$34,200), the campus area maintains a strong A grade.

Collectively, these A-rated neighborhoods account for 88.4% of all analyzed areas — a remarkably high concentration of safe communities for a city of Iowa City's size.

Which neighborhoods in Iowa City have higher crime?

Even Iowa City's higher-crime neighborhoods are statistically safe by most benchmarks. The areas with relatively elevated crime activity include:

• Grant Wood — the only neighborhood rated B in the top tier of higher-crime areas. Still a safe neighborhood overall, but worth noting for residents who prioritize the lowest possible crime exposure.
• Melrose, Wetherby, Peninsula Area, and Miller Orchard — all rated A-, meaning they fall just below the full A threshold but remain solidly in safe territory.

Importantly, 0% of Iowa City neighborhoods received a D or F grade, and only 1 neighborhood (2.3%) reached a C. For context, in many comparable U.S. cities, 20–40% of neighborhoods fall into D or F categories. Iowa City's distribution is an outlier in the best possible way.

Is Iowa City a good place to live?

The data makes a compelling case. Iowa City has a population of 120,928, a median home value of $223,654, and a median rent of $976/month — relatively affordable for a city with this level of safety and amenities. The unemployment rate sits at 4.7%, close to national averages, and the presence of the University of Iowa drives consistent economic activity. On safety specifically: 98% of neighborhoods are rated A or B, and the city-wide neighborhood safety grade is an A. The poverty rate of 27.3% is elevated — largely influenced by the large student population — but it hasn't translated into widespread crime, as evidenced by the grade distribution. Neighborhoods like College Green, University District, and Longfellow offer affordable living with strong safety grades, making Iowa City particularly attractive for students, young professionals, and families seeking a balance of cost, culture, and security.

How does Iowa City's safety compare to other cities?

Iowa City's safety profile stands out in several measurable ways. With 88.4% of neighborhoods graded A and not a single D or F neighborhood across 43 analyzed areas, Iowa City outperforms the majority of U.S. cities of similar or larger population. The overall city-wide safety rating of A (Very Safe) is a grade that many cities — including larger Iowa metros — do not achieve. The overall crime grade of B- reflects some city-level factors (such as the elevated poverty rate of 27.3%, driven in part by student demographics), but the neighborhood-level data tells a more granular and reassuring story. For anyone evaluating Iowa City against peer cities, the key takeaway is this: 98% of its neighborhoods are safe, and the worst-performing area still only grades out at a B.