City Crime Score
Very low crime
Population
20,755
Median Income
$115,103
Home Value
$319,853
Median Age
33.0
Crime Statistics
Demographics
53.4% have a bachelor's degree or higher
Housing
Waukee, IA Crime Map
Explore crime rates, safest neighborhoods, and detailed crime statistics
Waukee, IA Crime Overview: What the Data Shows in 2026
Waukee earns an A+ overall crime grade in 2026 — the highest possible rating — placing it among the safest cities in Iowa and the broader Midwest. With a population of 22,598 and a population density of just 419 residents per square mile, Waukee's suburban character and tight-knit community culture play a meaningful role in keeping crime low. Median household income sits at $94,371, the unemployment rate is a slim 3.2%, and the poverty rate is just 3.3% — all factors strongly associated with safer communities.
Recent Crime Incidents: A Closer Look at the Last 90 Days
Over the most recent 90-day window, Waukee recorded 113 total incidents — a remarkably low figure for a city of its size. Breaking that down by category reveals a clear picture of what types of incidents residents are most likely to encounter:
- Theft (42%, 47 incidents): By far the most common incident type, theft accounts for nearly half of all reported activity. Most recent incident: March 5, 2026. This is typical of low-crime suburban communities where opportunistic property crimes — unlocked vehicles, unsecured packages — represent the primary concern.
- Arrests (26%, 29 incidents): Arrest records make up over a quarter of logged activity, suggesting active law enforcement engagement rather than passive crime tolerance. Most recent: March 10, 2026.
- Assault (15%, 17 incidents): Assaults account for 15% of incidents — a proportion that, while worth monitoring, remains low in absolute terms for a community of Waukee's size. Most recent: March 5, 2026.
- Other (10%, 11 incidents): A catch-all category covering miscellaneous calls and reports.
- Vandalism (4%, 5 incidents): Vandalism is rare, with only 5 reports in 90 days. Most recent: March 3, 2026.
- Burglary (3%, 3 incidents): Just 3 burglaries were reported in the period, the most recent on February 27, 2026 — an exceptionally low count.
- Robbery (1%, 1 incident): A single robbery was recorded, on March 5, 2026, underscoring how infrequent violent property crimes are here.
Taken together, violent or serious crime categories — assault, robbery, and burglary combined — account for fewer than 19% of all incidents, while non-violent property and administrative activity make up the vast majority. That distribution is a hallmark of genuinely safe communities.
Neighborhood Safety Patterns in Waukee
Waukee's growth has been shaped by planned residential developments and master-planned communities. Areas near the Waukee Community School District campuses — including neighborhoods associated with Waukee Northwest and Waukee High School — tend to benefit from high foot traffic, active community involvement, and well-lit infrastructure. Newer subdivisions on Waukee's western and southern edges, many with active homeowners' associations, also report minimal incident activity on the crime map.
The incident data suggests that theft clusters are most likely in commercial corridors and areas with higher vehicle traffic, consistent with the 42% theft share. Residents in any neighborhood can reduce their personal risk by securing vehicles overnight and being attentive to package deliveries — the two most common vectors for opportunistic theft in communities like this one.
How Waukee's Crime Grade Compares
An A+ crime grade means Waukee outperforms the overwhelming majority of U.S. cities. For context, the national average city would score in the C range. Iowa as a state trends safer than the national average, and Waukee sits at the top of even that favorable comparison. Its combination of low poverty (3.3%), strong median income ($94,371), and low unemployment (3.2%) creates structural conditions that consistently correlate with reduced crime across decades of research.
Using the Waukee Crime Map Effectively
The interactive crime map on this page lets you filter by incident type, date range, and location. Given that theft dominates at 42% of all incidents, filtering the map to show theft markers first gives you the most relevant picture of day-to-day risk. The assault layer (15%) is worth reviewing if you're evaluating safety for evening activities or specific corridors. Burglary and robbery markers are sparse enough that their map presence is minimal — which is itself useful information.
- Filter by incident type to focus on what matters most to your situation.
- Use the date slider to see whether incidents cluster around specific times of year.
- Cross-reference with the heatmap view to identify any micro-level concentrations near commercial zones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions: Waukee, IA Crime & Safety (2026)
Is Waukee, Iowa safe in 2026?
Yes — Waukee receives an A+ overall crime grade in 2026, the highest rating available. In the last 90 days, the city recorded only 113 total incidents across all categories for a population of 22,598. Serious crimes like robbery and burglary together account for just 4 incidents in that period. By any reasonable measure, Waukee is one of the safest communities in Iowa.
What types of crime are most common in Waukee?
Theft is the dominant incident type, making up 42% of all reports (47 of 113 incidents in the last 90 days). Arrests — which reflect law enforcement activity rather than victimization — account for another 26%. Assault represents 15% of incidents, while vandalism (4%), burglary (3%), and robbery (1%) are all rare. This distribution is consistent with a low-crime suburb where opportunistic property incidents are the primary concern, not violent crime.
Which neighborhoods in Waukee are considered the safest?
Waukee's overall A+ grade means safety is broadly high across the city. Neighborhoods near the Waukee Community School District campuses — including areas around Waukee Northwest High School and the established subdivisions in the Waukee South corridor — are consistently associated with low incident activity. Newer master-planned communities on the city's western growth edge also tend to show minimal crime map activity, benefiting from active HOA oversight and newer infrastructure.
How does Waukee's crime rate compare to the rest of Iowa?
Waukee's A+ crime grade places it above the vast majority of Iowa cities and well above the national average. Iowa already trends safer than the U.S. as a whole, and Waukee's low poverty rate of 3.3%, unemployment of 3.2%, and median household income of $94,371 position it at the favorable end of even that comparison. Cities with similar profiles — affluent, low-density, growing suburbs — consistently outperform state and national crime averages.
Is Waukee a good place to live for families?
Waukee is widely regarded as one of the best family-oriented communities in the Des Moines metro area. The combination of an A+ crime grade, a median household income of $94,371, a median home value of $245,768, and a poverty rate of just 3.3% creates a stable, secure environment. The city's schools, parks, and rapid residential growth reflect strong demand from families who prioritize both quality of life and safety. The 90-day incident data — only 1 robbery and 3 burglaries in the entire city — reinforces that reputation with hard numbers.
What should Waukee residents do to stay safe?
Given that theft accounts for 42% of recent incidents, the most practical steps focus on property security: lock vehicles every night, use doorbell cameras, and coordinate with neighbors on package security. Joining or starting a neighborhood watch in your subdivision is effective, particularly in newer developments where community connections are still forming. For the latest incident data, the interactive crime map on this page is updated regularly — filtering by theft and assault markers gives you the most actionable view of current patterns.
Surrounding Cities
Waukee Zip Codes
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