Exercise Increased Caution
“Exercise increased cautionin the United Kingdom due to terrorism. There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in the United Kingdom.”
Updated Wed, 09 Sep 2026
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Is Des Moines safe? 🇺🇸
United States · Safety report last updated
As of October 2026, Des Moines scores 73/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — generally safe. Yes. Des Moines is generally safe for visitors, with moderate property crime and low violent crime risk in tourist areas. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (moderate risk). The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Des Moines 🇺🇸
United States · Assessed 8 October 2026
73
/ 100
What drives this score
Crime65/100FairCrime index 49.2 / 100
Sentiment65/100FairMostly positive
Advisories85Good
Stability72Good
Health79Good
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Good
No advisory against travel
“This travel advice also covers American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and United States Virgin Islands. Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe.”
Updated 2026-10-07T10:48:24Z
Full advisory →Exercise normal security precautions
“Canada's official risk level for United States: exercise normal security precautions.”
Updated 2026-10-08T06:25:21.5185863-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Fair
Urban scale factor
214k residents
83
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
5.8 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
62
Robbery / mugging
ModerateMugging and armed robbery occur occasionally, primarily in less populated areas or after dark; downtown and near certain parks see sporadic incidents
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag-snatching are infrequent but possible in crowded venues like the Iowa State Fair or Downtown Farmers' Market
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Good
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Moderate
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly positive
65/100
Reported feel60Mostly positive
Robbery risk62Moderate risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk
60% of visitors report feeling safe walking alone after dark, reflecting general confidence in tourist areas despite awareness of localized risks.
Yes. Des Moines is generally safe for visitors, with moderate property crime and low violent crime risk in tourist areas.
Des Moines scores 76/100 on composite safety, safer than 81% of countries. Violent crime is above national average but concentrated in specific neighborhoods; property crime and scams pose the main risks to visitors in crowded venues and downtown areas.
Recent developments
- Oct 2026Two more men arrested, charged in downtown Des Moines homicide— The Des Moines Register
- Sep 2026Tracking device leads police to suspect in Des Moines garage— KCCI
- Jun 2026Arrests made in separate Des Moines bank robberies— WHO13.com
- May 2026Police investigating bank robbery in downtown Des Moines— KCCI
Common scams
- counterfeit or duplicated event tickets sold via social media
- investment and imposter scams targeting tourists
Full briefing
Des Moines sees most violent incidents concentrated in neighborhoods like New Vision and Cheatom Park, which visitors rarely enter. The East Village and Capitol area remain busy and well-patrolled day and night. Recent homicide arrests in October 2026 show police are active in downtown investigations, though such events are rare in visitor zones. Pickpocketing spikes during large events like the Iowa State Fair, so securing bags in crowds is wise. Scams involving fake tickets for events have been warned about by the Iowa Attorney General as recently as July 2025, with ongoing fraud tours educating residents on imposter and investment schemes. Using rideshares after dark and buying tickets only from official sources reduces risk significantly. While the U.S. advisory urges increased caution nationally due to terrorism concerns, local authorities report no active threats, and Canada advises normal precautions. Overall, staying alert in tourist hubs and avoiding poorly lit side streets after dark keeps visits trouble-free.
Was this Des Moines, United States report helpful?
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Des Moines districts for visitors: 4 safer, 2 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the Des Moines safety map.
New VisionavoidListed as one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in 2026; higher incidence of violent and property crime.
Cheatom ParkavoidConsistently ranked high for crime in 2026; avoid especially after dark due to assault and theft risks.
Downtown Des MoinescautionGenerally safe during day; sporadic robberies reported after dark, especially in less populated areas.
Drake University areacautionGenerally safe but occasional reports of theft and assault; exercise increased caution at night.
East VillagesaferPopular entertainment district with heavy foot traffic day and night; low violent crime risk for visitors.
Ingersoll ParksaferConsistently rated among safest neighborhoods; low crime rates and family-friendly environment.
Brook Run VillagesaferIdentified as a top safety grade (A+) area in 2026 crime maps; minimal reported incidents.
Historic Valley JunctionsaferWell-visited commercial district with active policing; low risk for tourists during daytime and early evening.
07 · After Dark
Is Des Moines safe at night?
60% of people in United States say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2023).
Mugging and armed robbery occur occasionally, primarily in less populated areas or after dark; downtown and near certain parks see sporadic incidents
After dark, be most careful around New Vision, Cheatom Park, Downtown Des Moines, Drake University area. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Des Moines safety FAQ (2026)
Is Des Moines safe right now (2026)?
Yes. Des Moines is generally safe for visitors, with moderate property crime and low violent crime risk in tourist areas. Des Moines scores 76/100 on composite safety, safer than 81% of countries. Violent crime is above national average but concentrated in specific neighborhoods; property crime and scams pose the main risks to visitors in crowded venues and downtown areas. (Assessed 8 October 2026.)
Is Des Moines safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this Des Moines report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Which areas of Des Moines should tourists avoid?
Field research flags New Vision, Cheatom Park as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in Des Moines (2026)?
- counterfeit or duplicated event tickets sold via social media
- investment and imposter scams targeting tourists
How does Des Moines compare with other places in United States (2026)?
Des Moines ranks #9 of 9 United States destinations we've assessed, scoring 73/100. See the United States safety overview for the full list.
How is this des-moines safety score calculated (2026)?
The score blends 13+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight (and U.S. reports lean more on the latest field research); the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
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Raw data: des-moines.json (CC BY 4.0).