Top 10 most dangerous cities in Kansas

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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.

Wichita Population: 390,566 1,132 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.10 chance of being a victim: 1 in 88 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,865

Wichita, KS holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Kansas with 1,132 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (930), robbery (105), rape (88) and homicide (10) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 164% 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: 125,819 966 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.65 chance of being a victim: 1 in 104 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,053

The second most dangerous city is Topeka. With a population of 125,819 and a violent crime rate that is 125% 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 966 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.

Parsons Population: 9,648 959 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.63 chance of being a victim: 1 in 104 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,141

Home to 9,648 residents, Parsons, KS ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Kansas. Unfortunately for residents of Parsons, crime is widespread, with more than 959 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.63 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 123% higher than the Kansas violent crime rate.

Iola Population: 5,322 759 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.08 chance of being a victim: 1 in 132 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,388

With a violent crime rate that is 77% 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 (56), assault (463), rape (241) 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.

Junction City Population: 22,616 739 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.02 chance of being a victim: 1 in 135 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,793

The ongoing battle with crime in Junction City, 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 739 and a 1 in 135 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Junction City has a violent crime rate that is 72% 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 Junction City.

Chanute Population: 9,044 719 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.97 chance of being a victim: 1 in 139 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,441

Chanute, KS comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 719 per 100,000 people, which is 67% higher than the Kansas average. Chanute has a population of 9,044, which translates to 1.97 crimes per day and 1 in 139 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 Chanute which are much safer than others.

Newton Population: 18,846 716 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.96 chance of being a victim: 1 in 140 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,704

A 1 in 140 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.96 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 716 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 67% higher than the Kansas average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (557), robbery (16), rape (137) and homicide (5).

Leavenworth Population: 36,129 690 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.89 chance of being a victim: 1 in 145 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,019

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 690 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 544 counts of assault, 70 counts of robbery, 70 counts of rape and 5 counts of homicide. All told, the Leavenworth violent crime rate is 61% higher than the Kansas average.

Independence Population: 8,595 633 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.73 chance of being a victim: 1 in 158 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,048

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, Independence, KS comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Kansas with a violent crime rate of 633 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.73 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 158 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Coffeyville Population: 9,343 614 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.68 chance of being a victim: 1 in 163 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,729

Rounding out our list at #10 is Coffeyville, KS. With a population of 9,343 and a violent crime rate of 614 per 100,000 people (43% higher than the Kansas average), some parts of Coffeyville are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 486 counts of assault, 46 counts of robbery, 81 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 163 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	Wichita	390,566	1,132	5,865
2	Topeka	125,819	966	5,053
3	Parsons	9,648	959	5,141
4	Iola	5,322	759	4,388
5	Junction City	22,616	739	3,793
6	Chanute	9,044	719	3,441
7	Newton	18,846	716	2,704
8	Leavenworth	36,129	690	3,019
9	Independence	8,595	633	5,048
10	Coffeyville	9,343	614	3,729
11	Arkansas City	11,767	588	3,478
12	Garden City	26,403	583	3,143
13	Merriam	11,191	569	6,446
14	Park City	7,654	558	4,073
15	Salina	46,706	529	3,429
16	Wellington	7,716	525	3,517
17	Great Bend	15,224	431	2,044
18	Hutchinson	40,669	415	2,700
19	Paola	5,634	402	5,884
20	Mission	9,618	400	5,520
21	Emporia	24,631	394	2,958
22	Dodge City	27,186	374	1,702
23	Pittsburg	20,096	348	4,285
24	Liberal	19,025	315	1,396
25	Fort Scott	7,715	300	3,136
26	Abilene	6,258	295	1,942
27	Augusta	9,363	282	3,419
28	Winfield	11,990	274	2,837
29	Ottawa	12,308	270	2,277
30	Roeland Park	6,747	253	2,841
31	Olathe	139,216	234	1,381
32	Bonner Springs	7,846	224	2,973
33	El Dorado	12,976	218	1,507
34	Shawnee	65,844	215	1,625
35	Gardner	21,936	215	926
36	Lansing	11,955	215	923
37	Lenexa	54,804	206	1,667
38	Overland Park	193,412	203	2,450
39	Pratt	6,595	184	1,491
40	Tonganoxie	5,357	184	552
41	Concordia	5,005	179	1,389
42	Maize	5,044	178	2,751
43	Basehor	6,225	178	877
44	Atchison	10,561	169	2,392
45	Ulysses	5,518	161	214
46	Lawrence	97,348	157	936
47	McPherson	13,066	153	1,576
48	Bel Aire	8,082	143	1,001
49	Eudora	6,551	140	497
50	Spring Hill	6,992	132	851

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.