Top 10 most dangerous cities in Kansas

Kansas, known for its vast prairies and agricultural roots, offers a unique and tranquil living experience. From the vibrant city life of Wichita to the scenic beauty of the Flint Hills, Kansas provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich history and cultural heritage are evident in its museums, festivals, and historic sites. Despite its many positives, Kansas faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Kansas are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Kansas' natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Kansas involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Kansas. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and revitalization efforts. Kansas' commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of agricultural heritage, cultural richness, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

Junction City Population: 22,616 994 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.72 chance of being a victim: 1 in 101 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,835

Junction City, KS holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Kansas with 994 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (857), robbery (27), rape (100) and homicide (9) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 140% higher than the Kansas average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Topeka Population: 125,819 964 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.64 chance of being a victim: 1 in 104 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,671

The second most dangerous city is Topeka. With a population of 125,819 and a violent crime rate that is 132% higher than the Kansas average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Topeka are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 964 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 104 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Wichita Population: 390,566 931 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.55 chance of being a victim: 1 in 107 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,454

Home to 390,566 residents, Wichita, KS ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Kansas. Unfortunately for residents of Wichita, crime is widespread, with more than 931 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.55 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 125% higher than the Kansas violent crime rate.

Iola Population: 5,322 830 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.27 chance of being a victim: 1 in 121 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,753

With a violent crime rate that is 100% higher than the Kansas average, it's not hard to see why Iola made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (0), assault (566), rape (264) and homicide (0). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Iola more vulnerable to high crime.

Parsons Population: 9,648 704 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.93 chance of being a victim: 1 in 142 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,536

The ongoing battle with crime in Parsons, KS, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 704 and a 1 in 142 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Parsons has a violent crime rate that is 70% higher than the Kansas average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Parsons.

Merriam Population: 11,191 686 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.88 chance of being a victim: 1 in 146 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,342

Merriam, KS comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 686 per 100,000 people, which is 66% higher than the Kansas average. Merriam has a population of 11,191, which translates to 1.88 crimes per day and 1 in 146 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Merriam which are much safer than others.

Newton Population: 18,846 644 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.76 chance of being a victim: 1 in 155 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,321

A 1 in 155 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.76 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Newton makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 644 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 55% higher than the Kansas average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (469), robbery (33), rape (142) and homicide (0).

Leavenworth Population: 36,129 630 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.73 chance of being a victim: 1 in 159 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,965

Leavenworth, KS is another one of the most dangerous cities in Kansas and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 36,129 and a violent crime rate of 630 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 481 counts of assault, 43 counts of robbery, 81 counts of rape and 24 counts of homicide. All told, the Leavenworth violent crime rate is 52% higher than the Kansas average.

Coffeyville Population: 9,343 592 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.62 chance of being a victim: 1 in 169 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,062

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Coffeyville, KS comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Kansas with a violent crime rate of 592 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.62 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 169 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Garden City Population: 26,403 574 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.57 chance of being a victim: 1 in 174 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,141

Rounding out our list at #10 is Garden City, KS. With a population of 26,403 and a violent crime rate of 574 per 100,000 people (38% higher than the Kansas average), some parts of Garden City are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 448 counts of assault, 43 counts of robbery, 76 counts of rape and 7 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 174 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Kansas

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Junction City	22,616	994	3,835
2	Topeka	125,819	964	4,671
3	Wichita	390,566	931	4,454
4	Iola	5,322	830	4,753
5	Parsons	9,648	704	4,536
6	Merriam	11,191	686	6,342
7	Newton	18,846	644	3,321
8	Leavenworth	36,129	630	2,965
9	Coffeyville	9,343	592	4,062
10	Garden City	26,403	574	3,141
11	Independence	8,595	559	3,761
12	Concordia	5,005	540	3,519
13	Arkansas City	11,767	496	3,268
14	Bonner Springs	7,846	492	2,613
15	Pittsburg	20,096	486	4,756
16	Hutchinson	40,669	472	2,709
17	Mission	9,618	470	5,395
18	Lawrence	97,348	469	2,664
19	Salina	46,706	440	3,687
20	Park City	7,654	432	3,900
21	Wellington	7,716	432	2,853
22	Great Bend	15,224	408	2,732
23	Dodge City	27,186	402	2,019
24	Winfield	11,990	401	3,091
25	Colby	5,426	401	1,731
26	Ottawa	12,308	389	2,280
27	Fort Scott	7,715	373	3,106
28	Maize	5,044	367	2,948
29	Liberal	19,025	363	1,442
30	Roeland Park	6,747	340	4,289
31	Augusta	9,363	324	3,025
32	Atchison	10,561	319	2,977
33	El Dorado	12,976	289	2,426
34	McPherson	13,066	260	2,050
35	Lansing	11,955	250	1,429
36	Shawnee	65,844	250	1,656
37	Derby	24,428	228	2,412
38	Olathe	139,216	224	1,432
39	Overland Park	193,412	222	2,617
40	Lenexa	54,804	221	1,739
41	Abilene	6,258	216	1,449
42	Ulysses	5,518	191	330
43	Paola	5,634	189	1,515
44	Valley Center	7,843	174	1,099
45	Gardner	21,936	155	931
46	Prairie Village	22,255	145	1,476
47	Spring Hill	6,992	144	1,285
48	Andover	13,609	133	1,420
49	Leawood	34,702	128	2,081
50	Basehor	6,225	119	769

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Kansas is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Kansas cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.