“Urbandale, Iowa, is a very safe place to live, and the quality of life is high…“
Interacting with locals in Urbandale, you’ll discover more than 50% of residents residing in this affluent part of Iowa regard their city as presumably safe.
But is Urbandale, Iowa, safe?
What is this safety exactly like?
How does it compare with other cities in the state and the nation?
Let’s explore the crime rates in this suburban part of Des Moines in Polk and Dallas Counties.
History of Urbandale
Before diving into the safety ratings of this beautiful city in the Hawkeye State, let’s walk down history lane.
The history of Urbandale, IA, begins from its incorporation in 1917. While the origin of the name “Urbandale” remains unknown, in the early ’20s, the city’s population was about 298 until it burst through the thousand mark in the ’50s and exploded even more post-war suburbanization.
Urbandale has always had the moniker of being a “streetcar suburb” due to the first residents turning the railroad line used for transporting coal into a streetcar system. For years, Urbandale residents have used this streetcar to commute between the growing town and the city of Des Moines.
As a young town, Urbandale always had a knack for affluent residents. Plus, being in a state with a crime rate 20% lower than the national average, it’s little wonder why it’s safe in the city.
The city has always had available employment opportunities for its residents, and coupled with a reduced cost of living, instigators for crime are few.
Following experiences from some of the movers in Urbandale, Iowa, offers, and based on 2021’s census, the city has about 45,923 residents and ranks among the safest places to live in Iowa and the U.S.
Overview of Crime Rates in Urbandale
The crime rate in Urbandale, Iowa, is what anyone would regard as pretty low. With an overall average crime rate of 8 per 1,000 residents, Urbandale is about 65.7% lower than most U.S. cities of all sizes.
Two common categories are discussed in analyzing city crimes: violent crimes and property crimes.
Violent crimes usually comprise offenses ranging from murder to rape, assault, and robbery. In Urbandale, data shows that violently committed crimes are about 71% lower than the national average.
Property crimes encompass acts such as theft, burglary, larceny, arson, and vehicle theft. Similar to violent crimes, the rate of property crimes is lower than the national average by 64%.
Annually, the average report for crimes in Urbandale per 1,000 residents is:
- Violent crimes: 1.05 per 1,000 residents
- Property crimes: 6.86 per 1,000 residents
Compared to the National Average
In Urbandale, Iowa, the crime rate, in comparison to the national average, is staggeringly lower.
Side-by-side comparison based on violent and property crimes.
For violent crimes:
| Rate per 1,000 | Murder | Rape | Assault | Robbery |
| In Urbandale | 0.00 | 0.06 | 0.92 | 0.06 |
| National Average | 0.06 | 0.40 | 2.68 | 0.66 |
For property crimes:
| Rate per 1,000 | Theft | Burglary | Vehicle Theft |
| In Urbandale | 5.06 | 0.77 | 1.03 |
| National Average | 14.02 | 2.70 | 2.83 |
Compared to Nearby Cities
Measuring Iowa’s crime rate by its cities gives a safety score higher than the national average. Moreover, Urbandale residents feel 33% safer than their fellow Iowa residents in other cities.
Matching these data, falling victims to crimes in an Urbandale vs Iowa rating is;
For violent crimes
- Urbandale: 1 in 952
- Iowa’s Average: 1 in 349
For property crimes
- Urbandale: 1in 146
- Iowa’s Average: 1 in 75
| Cities Nearby Urbandale | Violent Crimes | Property Crimes |
| Des Moines | 1 in 164 | 1 in 37 |
| Johnston | 1 in 1,435 | 1 in 154 |
| Clive | 1 in 371 | 1 in 75 |
| Ames | 1 in 435 | 1 in 67 |
| Ankeny | 1 in 1,772 | 1 in 473 |
Year-over-Year Trend in Crime Rates
The crime rate in Urbandale has seen a drastic reduction in the number of reported cases over the years. Between 2021 and 2022, the total crime rate per 100,000 people reduced from 1,015 to 797.
Over the last year, more positive data show that Urbandale is improving its safety trend, making the town a lot more attractive for family folks.
The year-over-year crime rate has been reduced by 19.6%—with violent crimes falling 5.8% lower and property crimes dipping by 21.4%.
Safety Challenges Facing Urbandale
Although Urbandale is a relatively friendly and safe city, residents experience some slight challenges in the form of a safety risk.
- A higher level of property crimes within its city—particularly burglaries and thefts.
- The rising threat of cybercrime and online fraud affecting businesses.
Certain factors contribute to crime in Urbandale. For instance, the poverty rate and unemployment rate are below the national average of 12.4% and 3.06%, respectively.
Higher poverty and unemployment rates have been linked to major causes of crime in growing and established cities.
- Poverty Rate in Urbandale: 5.4%
- Unemployment Rate in Urbandale: 2.8%
Plus, the impact of law enforcement within Urbandale might be another problem facing the city—and it’s really not much of an issue.
The police-to-resident ratio in the city is lower than the national standard. This means that there are fewer law enforcement officers in the city.
- Urbandale Average Police-Resident Ratio: 1.28:1,000
- National Average Police-Resident Ratio: 3.25:1,000
Community Safety Approach in Urbandale: Solutions
Community safety and policing in Urbandale is more of a joint effort process between the local police and residents.
The local police department engages in patrols and has a 24/7 emergency response dispatch ready to attend to any call. Plus, residents all join through neighborhood watch programs to ensure safety across every street.
To address the safety concerns on property crimes and any other unlawful acts in Urbandale, the city would have to take its approach to community policing a little more seriously.
Currently, there is a crime prevention program between the Urbandale police department and its residents—the UrbandaleEYE Community Camera Program.
The program enables residents to become part of the police force through their security cameras. Should any crime occur around the premises of any residence, the resident of the area would submit the camera data for investigation to assist the local police in solving the crime.
What Does The Future Hold for Urbandale
Over the past year, the crime rate in Urbandale, Iowa, has been on a positive decline, which fosters an air of safety.
Based on the trend and the active security measures taken by the local police and residents, the city would have safer neighborhoods across every major area.
The city has made moves to improve the safety and security standards throughout its neighborhood by:
- Investing in technology—surveillance cameras
- Partnering with residents and educating them on resilience and preparedness.
- Regular officer patrols across neighborhoods
Summary—A Safer Urbandale
What does all this data say about Urbandale? Is Urbandale, Iowa, safe?
According to surveys asking residents how safe they feel, 75% would say yes, and a few others might disagree.
Neither category of residents is wrong!
While the city is mostly safe, some neighborhoods still suffer higher crime rates.
Nevertheless, following the annual decline in crime within the city, it’s okay to say Urbandale is actively trying to curtail further acts of lawlessness.
