Thanks to this article at RoadSnacks, we’ve got more data about Kansas crime and our cities. When judged, cities are measured based on violent crimes and property crimes, and measuring a balance between those two gives each city their overall rank. Keep in mind that this list is using only towns with more than 5,000 residents. For Kansas, that means out of 41 cities, most of our crime is in these ten. Will you be surprised to see some of the most dangerous cities in Kansas named?

10. Augusta
MadameGraffigny/Wikimedia
Starting out at #10 is Augusta, where the odds of being a victim of property crime are 67% higher than the rest of the country. Interestingly (and definitely reassuringly), the violent crime rate in Augusta is 15.3% lower than the national average.
9. Iola
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Iola is doing better year by year, with this year's ranking of #9, being down from #7 last year. You've got a 1 in 31 chance of being victim of some sort of property crime, but you're much less likely to be a victim of violent crime here (1 in 228.9). This is nice if you've fallen in love with the community and home-cooked food here in this cozy town.
8. Junction City
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Coming in at #8, Junction City resident have a 1 in 98 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime, and a 1in 39 chance of becoming a victim of property crime.
7. Merriam
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Your odds of being a victim of violent crime in Merriam are 1 in 258, which isn't terrible. Your odds of being a victim of property crime, however, is 1 in 23.
6. Salina
Jay Gannett/Flickr
In Salina, your odds of being a victim of property crime are 1 in 27, which is definitely not ideal. However, your odds of being involved in a violent crime are still pretty low (much like a lot of Kansas), at 1 in 219.

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5. Coffeyville
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Coffeyville moved from #3 down to #5, which shows improvement! Here, you have a 1 in 29 chance for property crime but only a less than 1 in 155 chance for violent crime.
4. Arkansas City
City of Arkansas City Facebook
Here in Ark City, you've got a 1 in 180 chance of being a victim of violent crime but a higher chance of property crime, at 1 in 27. Overall, crime in Arkansas City is still 71% above the national average.
3. Topeka
Doug Kerr/Flickr
Topeka rose from #5 to #4 this year, with less violent crimes each year but increasing property crime. Violent crime is up to 1 in 140 (from 1 in 165), but property crime rose by just one point to 1 in 20.
2. Independence
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Independence was #2 last year as well; nothing much has changed. The odds here of being a victim of a violent crime are 1 in 101, and your odds of property crime, much like the rest of Kansas, are higher, at 1 in 21. Incredibly, the crime rate in Independence is 129% above the national average.
1. Wichita
Lane Pearman/Flickr
Wichita usually ranks 1 on these lists, partially because they're the largest city in our state, and partially because the numbers are so concerning. Wichitahns have a 1 in 87 chance to be a victim of a violent crime, which isn't a percentage that we prefer. Back in 2018, we had a 1 in 18 chance to have our property stolen, and in 2021, the odds of that are the same. Though all of Wichita isn't the same, we definitely don't like these numbers.

However, don’t think that this data means you will be the victim of something like this. We still think you should explore amazing towns in Kansas, no matter what numbers might say about their crime rates. Simply be safe, be smart, and do the right thing – you’d be amazed at how far a little awareness tends to go.

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More to Explore

Most Dangerous Towns In Kansas

Tori Jane | May 03, 2021

What are some of the most dangerous places in Kansas?

Kansas, like anywhere else, has its good spots and its… well, not-so-good ones. Unfortunately, in 2021, Kansas was named one of the least safe states in the country, thanks to a rising crime rate. Some of the most dangerous towns were reported to be major city areas like Wichita, Junction City, Salina, and Hutchinson, with Arkansas City not terribly far behind. 

How is crime in Kansas compared to the rest of the United States?

According to this article on WIBW.com, Kansas ranked as the fifth most dangerous state in the country. It was determined that for every 1,000 residents, 7.05 violent crimes occur. Luckily, the vast majority of crimes here are property crimes, coming in at 66.07 per every 1,000 residents. Don’t let these numbers frighten you, though - Kansas has some remarkably safe places, too, and taking responsibility for your own safety in riskier areas goes a long way. 

What is living in Kansas like?

In one word? Quiet! We Kansans certainly seem to value our peace and quiet; the majority of the state is small, rural towns, where everyone is happy to learn your name, and days are mostly uneventful. Of course, in the bigger cities, you can find city life, if that’s what you so crave, but we don’t blame you if you don’t, either. One of the appeals of Kansas is the incredible beauty of our endless green fields, blue, cloud-speckled skies, and friendly populace. In the spring, we can get some crazy weather, but our summers can be mild (if not humid), and our winters a bit cold. Need some inspiration for a Kansas hiking trip? This article might be able to help! 

 

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