Lawrence, KS Crime Rates: Stats & Map

D

15%

Total crime NAT. AVG.

27%

Violent crime NAT. AVG.

12%

Property crime NAT. AVG.

Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.

Statistic	Reported_incidents	_{/100k people}	Lawrence_{/100k people}	Kansas_{/100k people}	National_{/100k people}
Total crime	2,546	n/a (estimate)	2,664	2,407	2,324
Murder	7	n/a	7.3	4.6	6.3
Rape	68	n/a	71.1	45.5	40.0
Robbery	34	n/a	35.6	29.2	66.1
Assault	339	n/a	354.7	335.4	268.2
Violent crime	448	n/a (estimate)	469	415	370
Burglary	233	n/a	243.8	273.4	269.8
Theft	1,697	n/a	1,775.5	1,488.7	1,401.9
Vehicle theft	168	n/a	175.8	230.2	282.7
Property crime	2,098	n/a (estimate)	2,195	1,992	1,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Lawrence, KS

When we analyze the latest crime report, the Lawrence crime rate is 14.6% higher than the national average. These incidents are classified into two primary categories: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes include assault, robbery, rape and murder. Whereas property crimes encompass theft, vehicle theft and burglary. In the case of Lawrence, there were 448 reported violent crimes, equivalent to 469 per 100,000 individuals, 26.8% higher than the national average. Additionally, Lawrence recorded 2098 property crimes, amounting to 2195 per 100,000 residents, 12.3% higher than the U.S. average.

In terms of the total Lawrence crime rate per 100,000 people, it falls within the midrange when compared to other cities across the United States. Our analysis of total crimes, encompassing both violent and property offenses in Lawrence, revealed that the reported crime rates closely align with the nationwide average reported by other areas.

In the most recent release, Lawrence reported a property crime rate that closely aligns with the national average. In Lawrence, there were 2195 reported property crimes, a figure consistent with the national average of 1954 per 100,000 individuals. This positions the area as maintaining a level of safety and security on par with the typical city. The harmonious statistics underscore a balanced commitment to community well-being, offering residents a sense of stability and peace in their surroundings.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Lawrence?

AreaVibes has conducted polls asking local residents if they feel safe living in Lawrence. Based on the results of the surveys (32 responses), 56% of people felt that there was very little crime in Lawrence and felt safe walking alone at night. While 44% of people felt that it was not a safe place to live and did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Lawrence a Safe Place to Live?

To determine if Lawrence is a safe place to live, let's take a look at the overall crime rate of the area, as well as the number of daily crimes. Lawrence has a total crime rate that is 15% higher than the national average per 100,000 residents. This results in a total of 6.98 daily crimes (1.23 violent daily crimes and 5.75 daily property crimes) in Lawrence.

Potential Causes for Crime in Lawrence

The economic well-being of a city's residents plays a significant role in crime rates. High poverty rates and income inequality can lead to increased crime stats as individuals may resort to illegal activities to meet their basic needs. While lower rates could lead to a lower Lawrence crime rate. The poverty level in Lawrence is 18.8%, while the national average is 15.1%.

In Lawrence, 91.9% of residents have graduated from high school, whereas the national average stands at 83%. The educational makeup of a community can exert a significant influence on crime rates. Typically, higher levels of educational attainment are associated with reduced crime rates, as they furnish individuals with improved employment prospects and viable alternatives to engaging in criminal activities. Conversely, communities characterized by lower educational achievement often grapple with higher crime rates, as limited opportunities may drive individuals towards criminal behavior.

Escalating cost of living expenses, encompassing exorbitant housing costs, grocery and healthcare expenditures, can induce financial strain on individuals and families, particularly those with limited financial resources. Such economic stress may propel individuals towards criminal activities, including theft or burglary, as a means of addressing their financial hardships. Conversely, cities characterized by a lower cost of living may alleviate economic pressures, potentially resulting in a reduced crime rate. In Lawrence, the cost of living is 11.98% lower than the national average, reflecting a more affordable economic environment that could contribute to a decrease in crime levels.

Lawrence crime map

The Lawrence crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Lawrence as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Lawrence crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Lawrence crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.

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Crime Quick Facts

Lawrence crime rates are 15% higher than the national average
Violent crimes in Lawrence are 27% higher than the national average
In Lawrence you have a 1 in 38 chance of becoming a victim of crime
Lawrence is safer than 20% of the cities in the United States
Year over year crime in Lawrence has increased by 2%

Lawrence, KS Crime Quiz

Safest Places to Live in and Around Lawrence

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Daily Crime In Lawrence (per 100,000 people)

The above illustration depicts the number of crimes committed daily in Lawrence, per 100,000 residents. In Lawrence, the total number of daily crimes is 1.11 times more than the Kansas average and 1.15 times more than the national average. Violent daily crime statistics in Lawrence are 1.13 times more than the Kansas average and 1.27 times more than the national average. For property crime, Lawrence has a daily crime rate that is 1.10 times more than the Kansas average and 1.12 times more than the daily national average.

How Safe is Lawrence (higher is better)

Compared to the other cities in Kansas and all other cities across the US, is Lawrence safe? From the gauges displayed above, you will notice that Lawrence is safer than 24% of other cities in the state of Kansas. In addition, Lawrence is safer than 20% of cities in the entire United States. To achieve these results, all Kansas and United States cities were analyzed to determine how many locations had a lower crime rate than Lawrence. By studying this data, it was possible to determine that Lawrence is below average in safety when compared with other United States cities.

Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Lawrence

The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Lawrence is 1 in 214

The chance of being a victim of property crime in Lawrence is 1 in 46

The chance of being a victim of crime in Lawrence is 1 in 38

Interested in knowing the odds that you will be a crime victim in Lawrence? In Lawrence, you have a 1 in 214 chance of falling victim to a violent crime, such as rape, robbery, assault, or even murder. In terms of property crime, your chances of being a victim are 1 in 46. These crimes include theft, vehicle theft, and burglary. Your overall chance of being a victim of crime in Lawrence, KS is 1 in 38.

Year Over Year Crime In Lawrence (per 100,000 people)

The year over year change in crime per 100,000 people helps to understand whether crime in Lawrence, KS is on the rise or declining. The violent crime rate in Lawrence has increased by 11%, while the property crime rate in Lawrence has not changed year over year. Summing up the numbers, Lawrence has increased by 2% with regards to total crimes year over year.

Lawrence police department

Item	Lawrence	Kansas	National
Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)	184	5,262	558,732
Police officers & civilians /1000 residents	2.1	2.5	3.3

There are a total of 184 Lawrence police officers. This results in 2.1 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 16.6% less than the Kansas average and 36.5% less than the National average.

Sex offenders in Kansas

State	Total offenders	Kansas_/100K	National_/100K
Kansas	9,632	349	266

There are a total of 9,632 sex offenders in Kansas. This yields a total of 349 sex offenders in Kansas per 100,000 residents which is 31% greater than the national average.

Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

City	Population	Violent crime_{/100k people}	Property crime_{/100k people}	Total crime_{/100k people}
Eudora, KS	6,551	77	432	509
Tonganoxie, KS	5,357	103	548	651
Edgerton, KS	1,750	172	824	996
Baldwin City, KS	4,684	363	706	1,070
Perry, KS	1,277	470	2,256	2,726
Lecompton, KS	857	493	2,366	2,859
Linwood, KS	420	560	2,689	3,249
Lawrence, KS	97,348	469	2,195	2,664

Cities with similar population

City	Population	Violent crime_{/100k people}	Property crime_{/100k people}	Total crime_{/100k people}
Yuma, AZ	97,428	561	1,688	2,249
Bend, OR	97,032	151	1,586	1,737
Edinburg, TX	97,734	335	2,213	2,548
Albany, NY	96,860	930	3,782	4,711
Nampa, ID	96,825	352	1,267	1,619
Lawrence, KS	97,348	469	2,195	2,664

Source: The Lawrence, KS crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.