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The most dangerous places in Kansas are going to need more than a pair of ruby red slippers to turn their situations around: they're going to need a miracle.
Kansas might not be in the top ten most dangerous states in the country, but it definitely has its fair share of dangerous places. Yes, The Sunflower State has its fair share of dangerous places and those are the places where you'll find the most crime. So, if you're looking to move to this flyover state in the Midwest, we suggest you take a look at RoadSnacks' list of the most dangerous places in Kansas for 2022.
How'd we do it? We consulted the numbers. In total, we analyzed 44 cities. We looked at the FBI's latest crime report for violent crime and property crime statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents. And unfortunately folks, some of the Kansas cities on this list made some pretty big jumps-in the wrong direction- from last year.
And to make matters worse, the list seems to be centered around the bigger cities in The Jayhawker State. Cities like Wichita and Hutchinson can't catch a break.
We're not talking about the kind of problems that give Baxter Springs' hometown hero, Joe Don Rooney, sad lyrics for his country songs. We're talking about the kind of crime that will get you on Topeka's KSNT at six and Overland Park's crimestoppers at ten. And, folks, it's rather unfortunate, but the breakdown begins in Kansas' most dangerous cities.
Want to know more? We suggest you grab some friends, fire up the 'ol Mustang, crank some Kansas, and keep reading.
The Most Dangerous Cities In Kansas For 2022
Do we think there's a direct correlation between Kansas places with high unemployment rates, low wages, and high crime to the state's most dangerous places? Absolutely.
What is the most dangerous city in Kansas? The most dangerous place to live in Kansas for 2022 is Independence per FBI data.
Now, if you live in Kansas' safest city, Leawood, keep enjoying life; but if you don't, we suggest you take a look at the list below. There might be some that surprise you.
Learn more about the safest places in Kansas.
If you're looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
For more Kansas reading, check out:
The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Kansas For 2022
Independence ranks as one of the most dangerous cities and one of the worst places to live in Kansas. Although there were only 92 violent crimes and 347 property crimes, for such a small town, that's some big numbers. Independence's residents have a 1 in 24 chance of being involved in a burglary, car theft, larceny, or arson and a 1 in 91 chance of being a victim of rape, murder, or aggravated assault.
Located in Montgomery County in the Southeast part of Kansas, Independence is home to the Neewollah Festival, where a town of 8,405 becomes a town of 80,000 during Halloween time. Home to Laura Ingalls Wilder of Little House on the Prairie fame this small town is wilder than it should be.
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Population: 8,405
Rank Last Year: 2 (Up 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,094 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,128 (Third most dangerous)
More on Independence: | Cost Of Living
Parsons was a railroad town. Like, such a railroad town that it was named after a railroad executive from the 1800s. It also served as the home for one of the founders of iconic motorcycle brand Harley-Davidson..
So Parsons has a long tradition tied to the concept of transportation. That's good: you might want to get out of town quickly. By rail, by motorcycle -- whatever. Given the crime rate here, criminals need options when fleeing authorities and repeated victims need a way to get to safer communities. Either way, they need a way out of the number 2 most crime-laden town in Kansas.
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Population: 9,373
Rank Last Year: -
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 917 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,064 (Fifth most dangerous)
More on Parsons: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Although Iola is one of the best places to buy a house in Kansas, it's also one of the poorest cities and one of theworst places to live in Kansas.
For a town of 5,220, you'd think crime would be lower, but residents have a 1 in 24 chance of getting their property stolen and a 1 in 158 chance of being a victim of a violent crime such as rape, murder and aggravated assault. Make sure to keep a close eye on your belongings and to be on the lookout for suspicious characters in this small town.
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Population: 5,220
Rank Last Year: 9 (Up 6)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 632 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,118 (Fourth most dangerous)
More on Iola: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Fort Scott is located in the east-central part of Kansas, a short drive from the Missouri border. Yes, it originated as an actual fort, an army post in operation during the middle of the 19th century. The town also serves as the birthplace of film director Gordon Parks, most famous for the 1970s movie Shaft.
That's a lot of history for a town of 7,658 people. But in Fort Scott, the past isn't the issue. In the present, residents have to worry about a rampant crime problem. This includes the number 6 highest pace of violent crimes in the state.
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Population: 7,658
Rank Last Year: 17 (Up 13)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 626 (Sixth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,538 (Sixth most dangerous)
More on Fort Scott: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
The residents of Merriam have something to celebrate this year. Their town has dropped from last year, and that number is mainly due to a drop in this city's violent crime. People who live here still have to keep an eye out for their valuables because they have a 1 in 16 chance of having something stolen like a car, cell phone, purse or wallet.
Located on the Missouri River on the Missouri-Kansas border, Merriam also ranks as one of the best places for singles in Kansas. So, if you're single and you're in the Kansas City metropolitan area, you have a good chance of finding your soulmate, but make sure you keep an eye on your valuables.
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Population: 11,087
Rank Last Year: 7 (Up 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 469 (11th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,115 (Most dangerous)
More on Merriam: | Cost Of Living
Coffeyville is a smaller town with a population of 9,171 people, and Coffeyville's residents have something to be happy about this year. This town also ranks as one of the worst places to live and poorest places to live in Kansas.
Now, the name of this old cowtown may not be familiar to you, but it's famous for bringing down the Dalton Gang in 1892. Coffeyville residents wouldn't stand for their banks being robbed. So, they grabbed their guns and took down every gang member, except for one. Let's hope they can band together again and bring these numbers down further.
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Population: 9,171
Rank Last Year: 5 (Down 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 588 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,445 (Seventh most dangerous)
More on Coffeyville: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
There's a Garden City in Georgia too. Like this one, it has a deceivingly pleasant-sounding name. It brings up visions of strolls along flower-strewn paths, etc.
Well, there must be something about the name. The Georgia version is one of the most dangerous spots in that state. And this Garden City shares similar level of notoriety in Kansas. Sure, this community in the southwestern part of the state has its charms. But it also has a dark side.
The town ranks as the number 7 most dangerous location in the state. One particularly scary problem: arson. Garden City has the number 3 most disturbing rate of man-made fires in Kansas.
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Population: 26,360
Rank Last Year: -
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 527 (Ninth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,429 (Eighth most dangerous)
More on Garden City: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Part of the urban sprawl surrounding Kansas City, Mission sits southwest of the center of one of the biggest metropolitan areas in the Midwest. As a result, the 9,979 residents have quick access to fantastic amenities -- a 15 minute drive will take them downtown.
Unfortunately, there's a downside to the city life. Mission also represents the number 8 most dangerous location in Kansas. Luckily, the statistics on violent crime are relatively tame. However, property crime rates are extremely high, including large numbers of larcenies and car thefts.
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Population: 9,979
Rank Last Year: -
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 430 (16th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,880 (Second most dangerous)
More on Mission: | Cost Of Living
Leavenworth is most famous for its prison. Originally built as an army fort, it converted to a military prison in the late 19th century. Eventually, the facility became a federal prison and it now dominates the public's consciousness about the town.
Irony time: along with the federal prison, Leavenworth's other claim to fame is that it is the number 9 most dangerous spot in Kansas. This community located just northwest of Kansas City has a major violence problem, with 294 such crimes in a year. At the same time, Leavenworth saw 146 car thefts during the 12-month span.
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Population: 36,023
Rank Last Year: -
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 816 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,384 (14th most dangerous)
More on Leavenworth: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Although Junction City made the most dangerous cities in Kansas lists, its residents can celebrate that their property crime has gone down from last year. But, they are still ranked third highest for violent crime. That means residents have a 1 in 110 chance of being a victim of a major crime, particularly aggravated assault.
Located in Geary County where the Smoky Hill and Republican Rivers meet, Junction City is a wholesale shipping center for wheat and dairy. Near Fort Riley, Junction City was a trading town during the days of George Custer and the Seventh Cavalry.
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Population: 21,242
Rank Last Year: 8 (Down 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 903 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,273 (17th most dangerous)
More on Junction City: | Cost Of Living
Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in Kansas for 2022?
Every year the FBI release two crime datasets, a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in the country, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.
For our analysis, we focused on the JUST released 2020 data, specifically the 2020 Crime In The United States Report. We will update the results when data becomes available in September 2022.
So what criteria did we use? Have a look:
- Violent Crimes Per Capita
- Property Crimes Per Capita
In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Kansas cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 44 cities in Kansas.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 44 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.
Next, we averaged the two rankings into one "Dangerous Index".
Finally, we ranked every city on the "Dangerous Index" with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Kansas -- Independence. Any ties went to the smaller city. You can download the data here.
Most Dangerous Places To Live In Kansas FAQs
Is Kansas a dangerous state?
Yes, Kansas is a dangerous state as it ranks as the #16 most dangerous state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in kansas ranks 19th highest in the United States -- 9.6% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Sunflower State ranks 17th highest in the United States -- 12.3% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020.
Is Wichita, KS a dangerous city?
Yes, Wichita is a dangerous city. Wichita ranks as the #8 most dangerous out of 320 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Wichita might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, Delano Township is the safest in Wichita, while Murdock is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Wichita ranks 26th highest in America -- 107.88% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks eighth highest in the United States -- 100.38% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020 and that no city in America is 'dangerous'. Despite the uptick in murders, it's nothing like you'd see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In Kansas
Summary: Locking It All Up In Kansas
So what is the most dangerous city in Kansas? After analyzing 44 cities in Kansas, Independence takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Kansas based on the most recently reported FBI data -- 2020.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Independence ranks as the most dangerous city in Kansas for 2022.
We want to point out again that there's still safes places in Independence and that this isn't a comment on the people that live there. So please don't beat us up.
Do we think there's a direct correlation between Kansas places with high unemployment rates, low wages, and high crime to the state's most dangerous places? Absolutely.
What is the most dangerous city in Kansas? The most dangerous place to live in Kansas for 2022 is Independence per FBI data.
Now, if you live in Kansas' safest city, Leawood, keep enjoying life; but if you don't, we suggest you take a look at the list below. There might be some that surprise you.
Learn more about the safest places in Kansas.
If you're looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
Here are the safest cities in Kansas:
- Lenexa (Pop. 56,508)
- Gardner (Pop. 22,370)
- Eudora (Pop. 6,440)
- Mulvane (Pop. 6,528)
- Leawood (Pop. 35,054)
- Spring Hill (Pop. 7,572)
- Basehor (Pop. 6,742)
- Prairie Village (Pop. 22,390)
- Tonganoxie (Pop. 5,649)
- Valley Center (Pop. 7,383)
For more Kansas reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Kansas
- Cheapest Places To Live In Kansas
- Most Dangerous Places In Kansas
- Safest Places In Kansas
- Worst Places To Live In Kansas
Crime By City In Kansas
Rank | City | Population |
---|---|---|
1 | Independence | 8,405 |
2 | Parsons | 9,373 |
3 | Iola | 5,220 |
4 | Fort Scott | 7,658 |
5 | Merriam | 11,087 |
6 | Coffeyville | 9,171 |
7 | Garden City | 26,360 |
8 | Mission | 9,979 |
9 | Leavenworth | 36,023 |
10 | Junction City | 21,242 |
11 | Arkansas City | 11,589 |
12 | Dodge City | 27,066 |
13 | Winfield | 11,900 |
14 | Great Bend | 14,864 |
15 | Newton | 18,830 |
16 | Wellington | 7,608 |
17 | Atchison | 10,421 |
18 | Park City | 7,812 |
19 | Paola | 5,730 |
20 | McPherson | 13,053 |
21 | Augusta | 9,339 |
22 | Haysville | 11,395 |
23 | Roeland Park | 6,683 |
24 | Colby | 5,365 |
25 | Maize | 5,130 |
26 | Hays | 20,769 |
27 | Shawnee | 66,208 |
28 | Overland Park | 198,036 |
29 | Ulysses | 5,546 |
30 | El Dorado | 12,924 |
31 | Andover | 13,592 |
32 | Derby | 25,229 |
33 | Olathe | 142,228 |
34 | Lansing | 12,023 |
35 | Lenexa | 56,508 |
36 | Gardner | 22,370 |
37 | Eudora | 6,440 |
38 | Mulvane | 6,528 |
39 | Leawood | 35,054 |
40 | Spring Hill | 7,572 |
41 | Basehor | 6,742 |
42 | Prairie Village | 22,390 |
43 | Tonganoxie | 5,649 |
44 | Valley Center | 7,383 |