The year 2022 was notable for crime trends in Iowa, with various changes observed compared to the national averages. Here's an analysis of the current crime statistics.
Iowa had 9,170 incidents of violent crime in 2022, translating to 286.5 per 100,000 people. In comparison, the national rate stood at 380.3 per 100,000, indicating Iowa's lower than average violent crime rate.
From 2021 to 2022, violent crime in Iowa fell by 2.8%, which is higher than the national 1.2% drop.
In 2022, Iowa recorded 53 murders, equating to a rate of 1.7 per 100,000 inhabitants. The nationwide murder rate was 6.3 per 100,000, showing that Iowa has a lower murder rate compared to the country overall.
Iowa had 42,614 property crimes in 2022, which amounts to a rate of 1331.5 per 100,000 residents. The national property crime rate was 1952.8 per 100,000, indicating that Iowa has a lower property crime rate compared to the national average.
The period from 2021 to 2022 saw Iowa's property crime rate fall by 11.6%, compared to the national change of 7.1% increase.
In 2022, Iowa had 4,718 car thefts, marking a 22.1% decrease from the previous year. Across the nation, car thefts rose by 10.9%, showing that Iowa's auto theft trend is higher than the national change.
The data includes a "Crime Score" for Iowa, which was 39 in 2022, up from 32 in 2021. While we don't have a national comparison for this score, the increase suggests an overall worsening in the state's crime situation.
Iowa presents a mixed picture when compared to national crime trends. The state has lower rates of violent crime and lower rates of property crime than the national average. However, it faces challenges with a a more significant change in car thefts compared to national trends.
Note that various factors such as changes in reporting, law enforcement tactics, and socioeconomic shifts can impact crime statistics. Hence, these figures should be interpreted within a wider context when evaluating the crime scenario in Iowa.