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.

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Parsons Population: 9,648 1,238 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.39 chance of being a victim: 1 in 81 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,340

Parsons, KS holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Kansas with 1,238 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,055), robbery (86), rape (86) and homicide (11) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 182% 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.

Kansas City Population: 153,014 1,047 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.87 chance of being a victim: 1 in 95 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,654

The second most dangerous city is Kansas City. With a population of 153,014 and a violent crime rate that is 139% higher than the Kansas average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Kansas City are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,047 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 95 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Topeka Population: 125,819 857 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.35 chance of being a victim: 1 in 117 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,499

Home to 125,819 residents, Topeka, KS ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Kansas. Unfortunately for residents of Topeka, crime is widespread, with more than 857 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.35 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 95% higher than the Kansas violent crime rate.

Junction City Population: 22,616 777 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.13 chance of being a victim: 1 in 129 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,083

With a violent crime rate that is 77% higher than the Kansas average, it's not hard to see why Junction City made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (9), assault (716), rape (51) 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 Junction City more vulnerable to high crime.

Newton Population: 18,846 617 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.69 chance of being a victim: 1 in 162 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,287

The ongoing battle with crime in Newton, 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 617 and a 1 in 162 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Newton has a violent crime rate that is 41% 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 Newton.

Wichita Population: 390,566 539 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.48 chance of being a victim: 1 in 186 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,842

Wichita, KS comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 539 per 100,000 people, which is 23% higher than the Kansas average. Wichita has a population of 390,566, which translates to 1.48 crimes per day and 1 in 186 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 Wichita which are much safer than others.

Coffeyville Population: 9,343 530 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.45 chance of being a victim: 1 in 189 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,132

A 1 in 189 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.45 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Coffeyville makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 530 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 21% higher than the Kansas average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (459), robbery (24), rape (35) and homicide (12).

Iola Population: 5,322 529 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.45 chance of being a victim: 1 in 189 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,494

Iola, KS is another one of the most dangerous cities in Kansas and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 5,322 and a violent crime rate of 529 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 435 counts of assault, 19 counts of robbery, 76 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Iola violent crime rate is 21% higher than the Kansas average.

Chanute Population: 9,044 525 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.44 chance of being a victim: 1 in 190 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,542

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, Chanute, KS comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Kansas with a violent crime rate of 525 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.44 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 190 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Concordia Population: 5,005 522 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.43 chance of being a victim: 1 in 191 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,587

Rounding out our list at #10 is Concordia, KS. With a population of 5,005 and a violent crime rate of 522 per 100,000 people (19% higher than the Kansas average), some parts of Concordia are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 462 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 60 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 191 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	Parsons	9,648	1,238	4,340
2	Kansas City	153,014	1,047	4,654
3	Topeka	125,819	857	4,499
4	Junction City	22,616	777	3,083
5	Newton	18,846	617	2,287
6	Wichita	390,566	539	2,842
7	Coffeyville	9,343	530	3,132
8	Iola	5,322	529	2,494
9	Chanute	9,044	525	2,542
10	Concordia	5,005	522	1,587
11	Independence	8,595	522	4,128
12	Garden City	26,403	512	2,592
13	Leavenworth	36,129	495	3,083
14	Salina	46,706	493	2,968
15	Lawrence	97,348	462	2,618
16	Merriam	11,191	435	6,022
17	Bonner Springs	7,846	406	1,992
18	Arkansas City	11,767	402	2,573
19	Emporia	24,631	369	2,671
20	Hutchinson	40,669	367	2,597
21	Pittsburg	20,096	366	3,860
22	Mission	9,618	339	4,912
23	Great Bend	15,224	315	1,872
24	Fort Scott	7,715	291	1,981
25	Winfield	11,990	284	3,197
26	Augusta	9,363	281	2,044
27	Shawnee	65,844	277	2,049
28	El Dorado	12,976	270	1,692
29	Abilene	6,258	264	1,537
30	Liberal	19,025	256	1,397
31	Dodge City	27,186	251	1,341
32	Hays	20,855	233	1,694
33	Colby	5,426	233	1,094
34	Wellington	7,716	226	2,789
35	Haysville	11,260	222	1,562
36	Spring Hill	6,992	204	827
37	Park City	7,654	201	2,603
38	Olathe	139,216	196	1,137
39	Tonganoxie	5,357	191	366
40	Overland Park	193,412	184	1,946
41	Lenexa	54,804	183	1,530
42	Roeland Park	6,747	180	2,462
43	Paola	5,634	173	1,382
44	Lansing	11,955	152	749
45	Atchison	10,561	151	1,481
46	Basehor	6,225	150	738
47	Ottawa	12,308	150	1,260
48	Maize	5,044	140	1,186
49	Gardner	21,936	138	1,016
50	McPherson	13,066	123	1,530

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.