Updated April 2026 · 9 cities · 6 data sources
Iowa Data Profile 2026: Crime, Schools, Water, Air, Hospitals & City Spending
Crime & Safety
Iowa has an average safety score of 63.5/100 across 2 cities, above the national average of 61.5/100.
Safest Cities
| City | Safety Score | Grade | Violent Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 79 | B | 208.2 |
| Cedar Rapids | 48 | D | 670.5 |
Most Dangerous Cities
| City | Safety Score | Grade | Violent Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | 48 | D | 670.5 |
| Des Moines | 79 | B | 208.2 |
Water Safety
Iowa cities average a water safety score of 76.4/100 across 5 cities.
Cleanest Water
| City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport | 100 | A | 0 |
| Ankeny | 100 | A | 0 |
| Cedar Rapids | 82 | A | 0 |
| Des Moines | 60 | B | 2 |
| Sioux City | 40 | C | 10 |
Most Water Violations
| City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City | 40 | C | 10 |
| Des Moines | 60 | B | 2 |
| Cedar Rapids | 82 | A | 0 |
| Davenport | 100 | A | 0 |
| Ankeny | 100 | A | 0 |
Air Quality
Iowa cities average a median AQI of 54 across 1 cities.
Hospital Quality
Iowa cities have an average hospital quality rating of 3/5 across 8 cities with a total of 15 hospitals tracked.
Top-Rated Hospital Cities
| City | Avg Quality | Hospital Count |
|---|---|---|
| Dubuque | 4.5/5 | 2 |
| Ames | 4/5 | 1 |
| Clinton | 4/5 | 1 |
| Cedar Rapids | 3.5/5 | 2 |
| Council Bluffs | 3.5/5 | 2 |
City Spending
Iowa cities average $17,057.6 in per-capita spending with an average fiscal health score of 59.1/100.
Most Fiscally Efficient
| City | Fiscal Score | Per Capita |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport | 90/100 | $14,236 |
| Sioux City | 75/100 | $15,576 |
| Dubuque | 62/100 | $8,826 |
| Ankeny | 61/100 | $9,971 |
| Des Moines | 55/100 | $1,302 |
Biggest Spenders (Per Capita)
| City | Per Capita | Fiscal Score |
|---|---|---|
| Ames | $44,915 | 34/100 |
| Cedar Rapids | $23,973 | 53/100 |
| Council Bluffs | $17,662 | 43/100 |
| Sioux City | $15,576 | 75/100 |
| Davenport | $14,236 | 90/100 |
According to data compiled by CitySpend.org from 6 federal sources, Iowa has 9 tracked cities with an average safety score of 63.5, school score of 0, and water safety score of 76.4.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on FBI crime data, Des Moines is the safest city in Iowa with a safety score of 79/100 (Grade B).
Davenport has the highest water safety score in Iowa at 100/100 with 0 violations.
Davenport has the highest fiscal health score in Iowa at 90/100 with per-capita spending of $14,236.
Clinton has the best air quality in Iowa with a median AQI of 54 (Grade C).
Cross-site data compiled from CrimeContext, WaterSafe, AirHistory, SchoolGrades, HospitalCosts, and CitySpend databases. Scores reflect the most recent federal data available for each dimension.