Forest City, IA Crime Rate & Safety
Lower crime than 93% of major U.S. cities
Based on FBI UCR & local law enforcement data · Updated April 2026
Is Forest City Safe?
Yes — Forest City is very safe
A very safe city with well below-average crime rates overall.
Forest City has a crime rate that is 49% below the national average. Your chance of becoming a victim of violent crime is 1 in 493.
Crime Index Comparison
100 = national average. Calibrated to reflect actual crime severity.
Your Chance of Being a Victim
Violent Crime
1 in 493
chance per year
National average: 1 in 263
47% lower than national average
Property Crime
1 in 82
chance per year
National average: 1 in 55
33% lower than national average
Want to know the crime risk at your exact address?
Forest City Crime Breakdown
Estimated crime rates based on FBI UCR data, calibrated to city-level crime score.
| Crime Type | Index | vs National | Risk Level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | ||||
|
Murder
|
52 | -48% | Low | |
|
Assault
|
54 | -46% | Low | |
|
Robbery
|
46 | -54% | Low | |
|
Rape
|
64 | -36% | Low | |
| Property Crime | ||||
|
Burglary
|
51 | -49% | Low | |
|
Larceny / Theft
|
62 | -38% | Low | |
|
Vehicle Theft
|
69 | -31% | Low | |
Violent vs Property Crime
Crime Index by Category
Forest City Crime Map
Neighborhood-level crime heatmap. Click any area for details.
See the crime score for a specific address
Forest City Crime by Zip Code
Explore crime data for specific Forest City zip codes.
Forest City Demographics & Context
Racial Demographics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the crime rate in Forest City, IA?
Forest City, IA has a crime safety grade of A as of 2026. The overall crime rate is estimated to be 49% below the national average. Residents face approximately a 1 in 493 chance of being a victim of violent crime per year and a 1 in 82 chance for property crime. Forest City has lower crime than 93% of major U.S. cities (population 50,000+).
Is Forest City, IA safe to live in?
Forest City is generally considered a safe place to live, earning a crime grade of A. However, safety varies significantly by neighborhood. Researching specific neighborhoods before moving to or visiting Forest City is strongly recommended.
What is the violent crime rate in Forest City?
The estimated violent crime rate in Forest City is 202.9 per 100,000 residents, which is 47% lower than the national average. This means residents have roughly a 1 in 493 chance of becoming a violent crime victim each year. Key violent crime rates include: murder at 2.6 per 100K (48% below average); aggravated assault at 145.1 per 100K (46% below average); robbery at 33.7 per 100K (54% below average).
What is the property crime rate in Forest City?
The estimated property crime rate in Forest City is 1,221.9 per 100,000 residents, which is 33% lower than the national average. Residents have roughly a 1 in 82 chance of being a property crime victim per year. Key property crime rates include: burglary at 138.8 per 100K (49% below average); larceny/theft at 864.0 per 100K (38% below average); vehicle theft at 219.1 per 100K (31% below average).
How does Forest City crime compare to the national average?
Forest City's overall crime rate is 49% below the national average as of 2026. The biggest concern is vehicle theft (31% below average), while robbery is 54% below average. Compared to other major U.S. cities, Forest City has lower crime than 93% of them.
Is Forest City safe to visit?
Forest City is generally safe for visitors and tourists. Property crime (theft, vehicle break-ins) is 33% below average, which is typically the main concern for tourists. Avoid leaving valuables in vehicles, stay aware of your surroundings in unfamiliar areas, and stick to well-traveled neighborhoods.
How does Forest City crime compare to the rest of Iowa?
Iowa as a whole has crime that is 14% above the national average. Forest City's crime rate is 49% below the national average, making it safer the typical Iowa city.
What type of crime is most common in Forest City?
Larceny/theft is the most common crime in Forest City, with an estimated rate of 864.0 incidents per 100,000 residents. This is 38% below the national average for this crime type. Overall, property crime (1,222 per 100K) is more prevalent than violent crime (203 per 100K) in Forest City, which is consistent with national trends.