Lake Forest, CA vs West Des Moines, IA

Lake Forest is safer with a higher safety score by 5 points. Lake Forest, CA has a safety score of 80/100 while West Des Moines, IA has 75/100, based on FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Lake Forest, CA has a violent crime rate of 145.7 per 100,000 residents, while West Des Moines, IA has 165.0 per 100,000. Lower rates indicate safer communities. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Lake Forest, CA has a property crime rate of 829.7 per 100,000, compared to 1714.1 per 100,000 in West Des Moines, IA. Property crimes include burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft.

Safety scores range from 0-100, combining violent crime rates, property crime rates, and population data from the FBI UCR. Higher scores mean safer cities. Grades: A (80+), B (65-79), C (50-64), D (40-49), F (below 40).

Based on crime data alone, Lake Forest is safer. However, safety is just one factor — also consider cost of living, job market, schools, and quality of life. Visit our city pages for more details on each.