{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/united-states/des-moines","updatedAt":"2026-09-30T11:15:22.511Z","place":{"city":"Des Moines","country":"United States","countryCode":"US","lat":41.60054,"lon":-93.60911},"safety":{"score":75,"level":"SAFE","answer":"Yes — generally safe","saferThanPctOfCountries":80,"confidence":0.75,"caps":[],"databaseScore":76,"travellerSentiment":{"score":68,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Residents report feeling moderately safe walking alone after dark (60%) and generally safe during the day, with visitors noting a welcoming atmosphere in tourist zones but advising caution in unfamiliar neighborhoods at night.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":60,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":96,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":69,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":68,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":63,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":75,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":76,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":2,"label":"Exercise Increased Caution","updated":"Thu, 08 May 2025","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/united-kingdom-travel-advisory.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-08-18T09:29:04Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":1,"label":"Exercise normal security precautions","updated":"2026-09-28T13:39:06.6647711-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-states"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":5.76340794073065,"display":"5.8 / 100k","year":"2023","score":62,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0.07607124618748103,"display":"0.08 / million","year":"2021","score":93,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":14.2,"display":"14.2 / 100k","year":"2021","score":55,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":64.2697196,"display":"64/100","year":"2024","score":64,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":73.5177858,"display":"74/100","year":"2024","score":74,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":69.8551773,"display":"70/100","year":"2024","score":70,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":77.7839316,"display":"78/100","year":"2024","score":78,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":76.1934585,"display":"76/100","year":"2024","score":76,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":72.3731718,"display":"72/100","year":"2024","score":72,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":214133,"display":"214k residents","year":null,"score":83,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":49.2,"display":"49.2 / 100","year":null,"score":55,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":60,"display":"60.0%","year":"2023","score":60,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"sexual_violence","label":"Sexual violence (past year)","value":0.1,"display":"0.1%","year":"2023","score":100,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":1.12,"display":"1.12 / 100k","year":"2022","score":77,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"fbi_violent_crime_rate","label":"Violent crime rate (FBI)","value":703,"display":"703 / 100k","year":null,"score":47,"source":"FBI Crime Data Explorer"},{"key":"fbi_property_crime_rate","label":"Property crime rate (FBI)","value":3126.48,"display":"3126 / 100k","year":null,"score":70,"source":"FBI Crime Data Explorer"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":35,"display":"US AQI 35 · Good","year":null,"score":92,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":26.8421851,"display":"27 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2022","score":80,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":25,"display":"September: highs ~25°C · strong winds, wet spell","year":null,"score":74,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · low seismicity","year":null,"score":100,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":1.5,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution · 2 govts","year":null,"score":75,"source":"CA / US"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":62,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":4,"display":"Low risk","year":null,"score":96,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":60,"display":"60 / 100 (Mostly positive)","year":null,"score":60,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes — Des Moines is generally safe for visitors, with moderate property crime and low violent crime risk in tourist areas.","summary":"Des Moines scores in the safe range on composite indices (76/100 from multi-database profile, 77/100 from IsMyTripSafe), with homicide and violent crime rates near or slightly above U.S. averages but property crime more prevalent. Visitor sentiment is moderately positive, with residents feeling safe during the day but less so after dark in certain neighborhoods. No recent terrorism or disaster alerts affect the city.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Mugging and armed robbery occur occasionally, primarily in less populated areas or after dark; downtown and near certain parks see sporadic incidents"},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are infrequent but possible in crowded venues like the Iowa State Fair or Downtown Farmers' Market"},"safeAreas":["West Side","Areas with A+ safety grades (specific names not provided in dossier)"],"avoidAreas":["New Vision","Cheatom Park"],"scams":["Fake ticket or reservation scams targeting event attendees","Overcharging by unlicensed taxi or rideshare drivers near downtown and the airport"],"zones":[{"name":"Downtown","level":"caution","note":"Some recent bank robberies and protests have occurred here; exercise awareness, especially after dark."},{"name":"Drake Neighborhood","level":"caution","note":"Mentioned as potentially 'sketchy' by residents; be aware of surroundings."},{"name":"New Vision","level":"avoid","note":"Cited as one of the most dangerous neighborhoods."},{"name":"Cheatom Park","level":"avoid","note":"Cited as one of the most dangerous neighborhoods."},{"name":"West Side","level":"safe","note":"Generally considered safe with good amenities and lower taxes."},{"name":"Downtown (after dark)","level":"caution","note":"While some feel safe, others advise caution, especially for men."}]}}