The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Kansas


The most dangerous places in Kansas are Merriam and Iola for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

Most dangerous cities in Kansas research summary. We analyzed the most recent FBI crime data using Saturday Night Science to determine the most dangerous cities in Kansas.

We examined the violent and property crime per capita statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents. In total, we analyzed 60 Kansas cities. Here are the results of our analysis:

  • The most dangerous city in Kansas is Merriam based on the most recent FBI crime data.

  • The violent crime rate in Kansas is 686 per 100k people.

  • The property crime rate in Kansas is 5,655 per 100k people.

  • The safest city in Kansas is Eudora.

  • Kansas is the 16th most dangerous state in the United States.

Most Dangerous Cities In Kansas Map


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Table | Methodology | FAQs | References


The most dangerous places in Kansas will need more than a pair of ruby-red slippers to turn their situations around. They’re going to need to get tougher on crime.

If you’re looking to move to this flyover state in the Midwest, you should take a look into our research of the most dangerous places in Kansas for 2024.

To determine the most dangerous cities in Kansas, we used Saturday Night Science to compare the FBI’s latest crime report for violent and property crime per capita statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents.

Crime seems centered around the bigger cities in The Jayhawker State like Wichita and Hutchinson.

The Most Dangerous Cities In Kansas For 2024

  1. Merriam
  2. Iola
  3. Topeka
  4. Parsons
  5. Wichita
  6. Junction City
  7. Coffeyville
  8. Pittsburg
  9. Mission
  10. Independence

What is the most dangerous city in Kansas? The most dangerous place to live in Kansas for 2024 is Merriam per FBI data.

Now, if you live in Kansas’ safest city, Merriam, keep enjoying life. If you don’t, we suggest you look at the research below.

For more Kansas reading, check out:

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Kansas For 2024

Merriam, KS

Source: Flickr User bob_brents1 | CC BY 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 10,928
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 686 (Sixth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,655 (Most dangerous)
Murders: 2
More on Merriam: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

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 17 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.

Iola, KS

Source: Wikipedia User Gordon Huggins | CC BY 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 5,302
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 829 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,923 (Fifth most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Iola: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

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 5,302, you’d think crime would be lower, but residents have a 1 in 25 chance of getting their property stolen and a 1 in 120 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.

Topeka, KS

Source: Flickr User rustejunk | CC BY 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 125,658
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 963 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,707 (Seventh most dangerous)
Murders: 13
More on Topeka: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Situated along the Kansas River in northeast Kansas, Topeka moved up from last year to be one of the most dangerous places in Kansas for 2024. Topeka also ranks for being one of the most ghetto cities in Kansas and one of the

4. Parsons

Parsons Location In Kansas

Parsons, KS

Source: Wikipedia User Kaethesson | CC BY-SA 3.0

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 9,369
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 704 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,831 (Sixth most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Parsons: Data | Crime | 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 4 most crime-laden town in Kansas.

Wichita, KS

Source: Wikipedia User Fetchcomms | CC BY-SA 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 394,286
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 930 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,523 (Eighth most dangerous)
Murders: 31
More on Wichita: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Wichita makes the top of the list again this year as the number 7 most dangerous place to live in Kansas for 2024. Residents of Wichita have a 1 in 28 chance of being involved in a property crime, especially personal property theft. Ranked third highest in violent crime, residents need to be on guard against aggravated assault, rape and murder.

Home to a large aircraft production hub, this city is known as the Air Capital of the World. Birthplace of Pizza Hut and White Castle, Wichita is the largest city in Kansas. So, if you’re going out for a late-night pizza or sliders in this big city, make sure you keep your guard up and your valuables close.

Junction City, KS

Source: Public domain

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 21,927
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 994 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,841 (14th most dangerous)
Murders: 2
More on Junction City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

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 highest for violent crime. That means residents have a 1 in 100 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.

Coffeyville, KS

Source: Wikipedia User City of Coffeyville | CC BY-SA 4.0

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 8,788
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 591 (Ninth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,470 (Ninth most dangerous)
Murders: 2
More on Coffeyville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Coffeyville is a smaller town with a population of 8,788 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.

Pittsburg, KS

Source: Wikipedia User Ichabod | CC BY-SA 3.0

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 20,774
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 486 (15th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,269 (Third most dangerous)
Murders: 4
More on Pittsburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Pittsburg, the eighth most dangerous place to live in Kansas, faces significant safety challenges due to its crime statistics. With a population of 20,774, this city in Crawford County has experienced 101 violent crimes, including 4 murders, 15 rapes, 8 robberies, and 74 aggravated assaults. Additionally, Pittsburg has seen 887 property crimes, such as burglaries and thefts.

Located in southeast Kansas near the Missouri state border, Pittsburg sits within Crawford County. As the most populous city in the county and southeast Kansas, it is home to a diverse community. With an area of 12.90 square miles, Pittsburg lies in the Ozark Highlands region, characterized by a mix of prairie and forests. Despite its current challenges, Pittsburg’s location offers opportunities for growth and development, making it possible for the city to overcome its dangerous reputation and cultivate a safer future for its residents.

Mission, KS

Source: Wikipedia User AlbertHerring | CC BY-SA 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 9,787
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 470 (17th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,924 (Second most dangerous)
Murders: 2
More on Mission: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

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 9,787 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 9 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.

Independence, KS

Source: Wikipedia User 25or6to4 | CC BY-SA 4.0

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 8,402
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 559 (11th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,201 (12th most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Independence: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Independence ranks as one of the most dangerous cities and one of the worst places to live in Kansas. Although there were only 47 violent crimes and 269 property crimes, for such a small town, that’s some big numbers. Independence’s residents have a 1 in 31 chance of being involved in a burglary, car theft, larceny, or arson and a 1 in 178 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 8,402 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.

Crime By City In Kansas

Rank City Population Total Crimes Per 100K Violent Crimes Per 100K Property Crimes Per 100K Murders
1 Merriam 10,928 6,341 686 5,655 2
2 Iola 5,302 4,752 829 3,923 0
3 Topeka 125,658 4,671 963 3,707 13
4 Parsons 9,369 4,536 704 3,831 0
5 Wichita 394,286 4,454 930 3,523 31
6 Junction City 21,927 3,835 994 2,841 2
7 Coffeyville 8,788 4,062 591 3,470 2
8 Pittsburg 20,774 4,755 486 4,269 4
9 Mission 9,787 5,394 470 4,924 2
10 Independence 8,402 3,761 559 3,201 0
11 Concordia 5,002 3,518 539 2,978 0
12 Newton 18,337 3,321 643 2,677 0
13 Arkansas City 11,902 3,268 495 2,772 0
14 Park City 8,565 3,899 431 3,467 0
15 Salina 46,161 3,687 439 3,247 3
16 Garden City 27,701 3,140 573 2,566 2
17 Leavenworth 37,004 2,964 629 2,334 9
18 Roeland Park 6,762 4,288 340 3,948 0
19 Winfield 11,713 3,090 401 2,689 0
20 Hutchinson 39,424 2,709 471 2,237 0
21 Fort Scott 7,501 3,106 373 2,732 0
22 Wellington 7,641 2,853 431 2,421 1
23 Bonner Springs 7,731 2,612 491 2,121 0
24 Lawrence 95,580 2,663 468 2,195 7
25 Augusta 9,256 3,025 324 2,700 0
26 Great Bend 14,456 2,732 408 2,324 0
27 Maize 6,275 2,948 366 2,581 0
28 Atchison 10,650 2,976 319 2,657 0
29 Hays 20,861 2,310 421 1,888 1
30 Ottawa 12,586 2,280 389 1,890 0
31 Dodge City 27,641 2,018 401 1,617 1
32 El Dorado 12,821 2,425 288 2,137 1
33 Overland Park 196,626 2,616 222 2,394 5
34 Derby 25,907 2,412 227 2,184 2
35 Colby 5,488 1,731 400 1,330 0
36 McPherson 13,853 2,050 259 1,790 0
37 Pratt 6,606 1,877 272 1,604 0
38 Louisburg 5,023 1,652 238 1,413 0
39 Shawnee 67,617 1,656 249 1,406 3
40 Emporia 24,747 2,133 149 1,984 0
41 Liberal 19,557 1,441 363 1,078 0
42 Lenexa 59,289 1,738 220 1,517 2
43 Lansing 11,200 1,428 250 1,178 0
44 Leawood 33,596 2,080 127 1,952 0
45 Olathe 144,646 1,431 223 1,207 2
46 Paola 5,808 1,515 189 1,325 0
47 Abilene 6,489 1,448 215 1,232 0
48 Prairie Village 22,835 1,475 144 1,331 0
49 Bel Aire 8,599 1,651 46 1,604 0
50 Mulvane 6,844 1,592 102 1,490 0

Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in Kansas for 2024?

Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in Kansas. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in Kansas, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.

For our analysis, we focused on the 2022 data, specifically the 2022 Crime In The United States Report for Kansas.

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 60 cities in Kansas.

We then ranked each city from 1 to 60 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 — Merriam. Any ties went to the smaller city.

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our tenth time ranking the most dangerous places to live in Kansas and is updated for 2024.

Most Dangerous Places To Live In Kansas FAQs

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 most dangerous in the United States — 14.94% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Sunflower State ranks 17th most dangerous in the United States — 12.52% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.

Yes, Wichita is a dangerous city. Wichita ranks as the #64 most dangerous out of 328 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, Sherwood Glen 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 47th highest in America — 68.16% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 72nd highest in the United States — 29.13% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 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

Most Dangerous Cities In Kansas Graph

Click To Enlarge

Summary: Locking It All Up In Kansas

So what is the most dangerous city in Kansas? After analyzing 60 cities in Kansas, Merriam takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Kansas based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2022.

The latest FBI crime data shows that Merriam ranks as the most dangerous city in Kansas for 2024.

The most dangerous cities in Kansas are .

We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Merriam and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up.

What is the most dangerous city in Kansas? The most dangerous place to live in Kansas for 2024 is Merriam per FBI data.

Now, if you live in Kansas’ safest city, Merriam, keep enjoying life. If you don’t, we suggest you look at the research below.

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:

  1. Andover (Pop. 15,842)
  2. Valley Center (Pop. 7,463)
  3. Goddard (Pop. 5,020)
  4. Spring Hill (Pop. 9,024)
  5. Ulysses (Pop. 5,764)
  6. Gardner (Pop. 24,497)
  7. Haysville (Pop. 11,308)
  8. Basehor (Pop. 7,546)
  9. Tonganoxie (Pop. 5,836)
  10. Eudora (Pop. 6,480)

For more Kansas reading, check out:

References