Iowa
Iowa ranks 12th of 51 on the National Fireground Score, placing it in the upper tier nationally. Its composite of 62 sits 7 points above the national average of 54.6. The score is shaped most by a comparatively low fire burden. Iowa is outperforming expectations: actual fire burden runs roughly 15 points below what its risk profile would predict. Investment exceeds what current fire burden alone would require. Iowa ranks 26th in funding per capita and 43rd in fire burden.
Generated from this state's sourced metrics. In production, the narrative is produced by the Fireground Analytics engine.
Score breakdown
Three sub-scores combine into the composite. Burden and Vulnerability are inverted so a higher composite always means a stronger position.
Composite = 0.40 × (100 − Burden) + 0.25 × (100 − Vulnerability) + 0.35 × Readiness. Burden and Vulnerability are inverted so that a higher composite always means a stronger position.
Expected vs. actual performance
Is this state doing better or worse than its risk profile predicts?
Actual fire burden is materially lower than its risk profile predicts.
Expected burden is modeled from Iowa's vulnerability and demographic profile. A marker left of the band means fewer fire losses than conditions predict; right of the band means more. This is a benchmark signal, not a finding of cause. In production this model is the Fireground Analytics risk-adjusted engine.
Funding & the burden it has to match
Grants, per-capita funding, and tax revenue set against the fire burden this state actually carries.
Investment exceeds what current fire burden alone would require.
Are we funding fire service at a level that matches our risk?
How it compares
Regional peers, similar-population states, and similar-vulnerability states — measured against the same benchmark.
Five-year trends
Is the state improving or declining — on score, burden, vulnerability, funding, and national rank?
Risers & fallers reflect movement in Iowa's national position over the trailing five reporting years.
Key insights
Sharp, sourced takeaways a chief or council member could act on.
Fire incidents per 1,000 residents ranks 3rd nationally (2 per 1k) — a top differentiator for Iowa.
Federal fire grant funding per capita ranks 36th of 51 (10.7 USD), the metric dragging hardest on the composite.
Funding per capita (26th) outpaces measured fire burden (43rd) — resources appear well ahead of current risk.
Federal fire grant funding per capita sits in the 30th percentile — headroom to compete for AFG, SAFER, and mitigation dollars.
Housing built before 1970 (24 %, 8th) is a structural vulnerability worth watching as housing and demographics shift.
Every metric, every source
The complete sourced dataset behind this report card. Each figure links to its public origin.
| Metric | Value | State percentile | Nat. rank | Year | Source | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fire incidents per 1,000 residents | 2 per 1k | 2nd | 3rd | 2024 | U.S. Fire Administration | Modeled estimate |
Fire deaths per 100k | 0.6 per 100k | 8th | 5th | 2024 | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | Modeled estimate |
Fire injuries per 100k | 3 per 100k | 6th | 4th | 2024 | U.S. Fire Administration | Modeled estimate |
Fire property loss per capita | $60 | 22nd | 12th | 2024 | U.S. Fire Administration | Modeled estimate |
Population in poverty | 12.5% | 24th | 13th | 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau | Modeled estimate |
Population age 65+ | 15.2% | 16th | 9th | 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau | Modeled estimate |
Housing built before 1970 | 24% | 12th | 8th | 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau | Modeled estimate |
Rural population | 28% | 32nd | 17th | 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau | Modeled estimate |
Social vulnerability index | 0.43 | 28th | 15th | 2024 | Federal Emergency Management Agency | Modeled estimate |
Federal fire grant funding per capita | $11 | 30th | 36th | 2024 | Federal Emergency Management Agency | Modeled estimate |
Fire protection expenditure per capita | $137 | 34th | 33rd | 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau | Modeled estimate |
Fire tax / special-district revenue per capita | $42 | 42nd | 28th | 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau | Modeled estimate |
Firefighters per 1,000 residents | 2.5 per 1k | 32nd | 34th | 2024 | U.S. Fire Administration; National Fire Protection Association | Modeled estimate |
NFIRS / NERIS reporting completeness | 86% | 12th | 45th | 2024 | U.S. Fire Administration | Reported |
Go deeper than the public scorecard
The National Fireground Scorecard shows where Iowa stands. Fireground Analytics shows the counties, departments, and decisions behind it — and what to do next.
County, city, and department-level benchmarking beyond the state view.
Drill from the state score into the jurisdictions driving it.
Match AFG, SAFER, and mitigation opportunities to measured need.
Risk-adjusted forecasting from the Fireground Analytics engine.
Turn the benchmark into a plan your jurisdiction can act on.
Custom report cards and peer cohorts for your agency.
Sample data for demonstration only — not real rankings. See the methodology and sources. An initiative of Fireground Analytics.