Urbandale, IA Crime Rate & Safety
Lower crime than 98% of major U.S. cities
Based on FBI UCR & local law enforcement data · Updated March 2026
Is Urbandale Safe?
Urbandale has a crime rate that is 52% below the national average. Your chance of becoming a victim of violent crime is 1 in 558.
Crime Index Comparison
100 = national average. Calibrated to reflect actual crime severity.
Your Chance of Being a Victim
Violent Crime
1 in 558
chance per year
National average: 1 in 263
53% lower than national average
Property Crime
1 in 85
chance per year
National average: 1 in 55
36% lower than national average
Urbandale 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
|
58 | -42% | Low | |
|
Assault
|
47 | -53% | Low | |
|
Robbery
|
52 | -48% | Low | |
|
Rape
|
36 | -64% | Low | |
| Property Crime | ||||
|
Burglary
|
49 | -51% | Low | |
|
Larceny / Theft
|
63 | -37% | Low | |
|
Vehicle Theft
|
52 | -48% | Low | |
Violent vs Property Crime
Crime Index by Category
Urbandale Crime Map
Neighborhood-level crime heatmap. Click any area for details.
Urbandale Crime by Zip Code
Explore crime data for specific Urbandale zip codes.
Urbandale Demographics & Context
Racial Demographics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the crime rate in Urbandale, IA?
Urbandale, IA has a crime safety grade of A as of 2026. The overall crime rate is estimated to be 52% below the national average. Residents face approximately a 1 in 558 chance of being a victim of violent crime per year and a 1 in 85 chance for property crime. Urbandale has lower crime than 98% of major U.S. cities (population 50,000+).
Is Urbandale, IA safe to live in?
Urbandale 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 Urbandale is strongly recommended.
What is the violent crime rate in Urbandale?
The estimated violent crime rate in Urbandale is 179.3 per 100,000 residents, which is 53% lower than the national average. This means residents have roughly a 1 in 558 chance of becoming a violent crime victim each year. Key violent crime rates include: murder at 2.9 per 100K (42% below average); aggravated assault at 125.4 per 100K (53% below average); robbery at 38.7 per 100K (48% below average).
What is the property crime rate in Urbandale?
The estimated property crime rate in Urbandale is 1,176.4 per 100,000 residents, which is 36% lower than the national average. Residents have roughly a 1 in 85 chance of being a property crime victim per year. Key property crime rates include: burglary at 131.2 per 100K (51% below average); larceny/theft at 878.3 per 100K (37% below average); vehicle theft at 166.9 per 100K (48% below average).
How does Urbandale crime compare to the national average?
Urbandale's overall crime rate is 52% below the national average as of 2026. The biggest concern is larceny/theft (37% below average), while rape is 64% below average. Compared to other major U.S. cities, Urbandale has lower crime than 98% of them.
Is Urbandale safe to visit?
Urbandale is generally safe for visitors and tourists. Property crime (theft, vehicle break-ins) is 36% 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 Urbandale crime compare to the rest of Iowa?
Iowa as a whole has crime that is 14% above the national average. Urbandale's crime rate is 52% below the national average, making it safer the typical Iowa city.
What type of crime is most common in Urbandale?
Larceny/theft is the most common crime in Urbandale, with an estimated rate of 878.3 incidents per 100,000 residents. This is 37% below the national average for this crime type. Overall, property crime (1,176 per 100K) is more prevalent than violent crime (179 per 100K) in Urbandale, which is consistent with national trends.