KS · 5 cities
Dangerous neighborhoods in Kansas
Kansas recorded 476 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 1.4 times the national rate and up 6% since 2022. Of the 5 cities we cover, Wichita, Kansas City and Topeka have the highest rates and Overland Park the lowest. Each guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off.
Wichita
Kansas City
Olathe
Overland Park
TopekaFBI data · 2025
Most dangerous cities in Kansas, ranked
The 5 Kansas cities we cover, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 3 of 5 run above the state average of 476. A high citywide rate doesn't make a whole city unsafe: crime clusters in a few areas, and each guide above shows where.
- 1
Wichita
1,210 violent crimes per 100k
2.5× the state average
- 2
Kansas City
981 violent crimes per 100k
2.1× the state average
- 3
Topeka
882 violent crimes per 100k
1.9× the state average
| # | City | Violent per 100k | Property per 100k | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wichita | 1,210 | 4,649 | 401,730 |
| 2 | Kansas City | 981 | 3,169 | 156,815 |
| 3 | Topeka | 882 | 3,467 | 125,228 |
| 4 | Olathe | 230 | 849 | 150,965 |
| 5 | Overland Park | 161 | 1,471 | 204,173 |
| Kansas average | 476 | 1,924 | ||
| US average | 330 |
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported by each city's police department per 100,000 residents; most cities use 2025 data, and a small year next to a name marks a different latest complete year. Only cities with a neighborhood guide are included, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. How we rank cities.
Kansas crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in Kansas?
Of the 5 Kansas cities in our ranking, Wichita has the highest violent crime rate: 1,210 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 2.5 times the state average. Kansas City and Topeka come next. Even in Wichita, crime is concentrated in a few areas, and our Wichita guide shows which ones.
What is the safest city in Kansas?
Among the cities we rank, Overland Park has the lowest violent crime rate, at 161 per 100,000 residents in 2025, 66% below the state average. Olathe follows with 230. A low citywide rate doesn't mean every block is the same, but day-to-day risk is lower.
Is Kansas safe to visit?
Most visits go without trouble, but Kansas has more violent crime than the US as a whole. Kansas recorded 476 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 1.4 times the national rate of 330. Crime is concentrated in specific neighborhoods and hours rather than spread evenly, so knowing where those areas are matters more than the statewide figure; our 5 city guides cover them block by block.
Which Kansas cities have above-average crime?
3 of the 5 cities we rank have a violent crime rate above the Kansas average of 476 per 100,000 residents: Wichita, Kansas City and Topeka. The other 2 are below it.
Is crime going up or down in Kansas?
Violent crime in Kansas went from 449 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 476 in 2025, up 6%. Property crime went from 2,174 to 1,924 over 2022–2025, down 12%.
Where do these crime figures come from?
From the FBI Crime Data Explorer, which collects the offenses reported by each police department. Rates are offenses per 100,000 residents, so cities of different sizes can be compared, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. Our methodology explains the details.