Kansas is known for its amber waves of grain that seem to go forever through the countryside.
There are three million people in the state, and a third of them live in either Wichita or the Kansas City area.
That leaves a lot of space for the rest.
Kansas is slightly above the national average of 5.1 murders per 100,000 and is at the national average for gun deaths at 13 per 100,000.
Its overall violent crime rate of 425 per 100,000 is 25 points above the national average.
There are, however, a lot of rural towns that have very low crime rates.
The state’s property crime rate is also slightly higher than the national rate.
Contents
10 Safest Cities in Kansas
Hesston
Hesston is a town of 3500 people about 40 miles north of Wichita.
Its already low crime rate has gone down recently.
In 2020, there were .3 violent crimes per 1000 people, down from 1.6 the previous year.
The same is true for property crime.
In 2022, there were 6.9 property crimes per 1000, and it was 9.8 in 2020.
Its overall crime rate is 73 percent below the state average.
In 2020, there was only one violent crime reported and that was an assault.
Its property crime rate of 694 per 100,000 is far below the state average of 2199.
Leawood
Leawood is a suburb of Kansas City, on the south side, and has 30,000 people.
It is essentially part of Kansas City, but the suburb has one of the best crime rates in the state.
Its violent crime rate has been less than one per 1000 people for three consecutive years.
Its property crime rate has crept up to 16 per 1000, up from 11.4 in 2021, but that is still below the state and national average.
There were no murders last year, but there were three rapes.
The violent crime rate is 90 percent below the state average.
Scott City
Scott City is a rural town of 4100 in the western part of the state, 50 miles from the Colorado border.
Its violent crime rate has gone up some, to 2.1 per 1000 in 2022, from 1.6 in 2020, which is still below the state and national average.
Its property crime rate is very low, at 5.4 per 1000 in 2020, which is one of the best in the state.
Property crime is 73 percent below the national average.
There were eight violent crimes last year, and all of them were assaults.
There were 20 property crimes and 17 of those were thefts.
Valley Center
Valley Center is a town of 5,000 just north of Wichita.
It is far enough away, 12 miles, to have a more country feeling.
Valley Center’s total crime rate is 68 percent lower than the national average.
Violent crime is 73 percent, and property crime is 67 percent below the national rate.
There were eight violent crimes last year, and four of them were rapes.
Valley Center is above the national average for rape, but below it for all other crimes.
There were 48 property crimes and 28 were thefts.
Overall, Valley Center is safer than 78 percent of all cities in the United States.
Goddard
Goddard is another town of 5,000 close to Wichita.
This one is on the west side and about 10 miles away.
It has had a less than one in 1000 violent crime rate for a few years.
The property crime rate went up significantly in 2022, to 11.4 in 1000, after having been seven in 1000 last year.
Its overall crime rate is 56 percent below the state average.
There was only one violent crime reported last year, and that was an assault.
There were 55 property crimes and 48 of them were simple thefts.
Basehor
Basehor is a city of 6700 on the western side of Kansas City.
Basehor has had a less than one in 1000 violent crime rate for several years.
Its property crime rate of 10 in 1000 has been fairly constant for three years.
Its violent crime rate is 81 percent below the national average, and its property crime rate is 46 percent below the national average.
There were five violent crimes last year, and four were assaults.
There were no murders or robberies.
Andover
Andover is a town of 14,000 about 15 miles east of Wichita.
The overall crime rate is a third of the state average.
Its violent crime rate is 62 percent below the national average.
There were 20 violent crimes last year, 14 with assaults and there were four rapes.
There were 233 property crimes and 201 of them were thefts.
There has not been a murder in Andover in a few years.
The violent crime rate has remained steady but the property crime rate is creeping upwards.
Louisburg
Louisburg is a town of 5,000 about 25 miles south of Kansas City.
It is far enough away from the city to have a country feel, but close enough to enjoy the city.
Louisburg’s low crime rate has been going down.
It was at .9 per 1000 in 2022, and at 1.3 per 1000 in 2021.
The property crime rate has held steady at about 10 per 1000 for three years.
Its overall crime rate is half the national average.
There were only four violent crimes reported last year and all were assaults.
Prairie Village
Prairie Village is a city of 21000, between Kansas City and Overland Park, making it a very urban environment.
That alone may make its low crime rate a surprise.
Its violent crime rate is 83 percent below the national average and its property crime rate is 45 percent below.
There was one murder last year, as well as two rapes, as part of 14 overall violent crimes, but its rate of crime is still far below state and national averages.
It is also far below its two neighbors as far as crime.
Derby
Derby is an upscale city on the south side of Wichita, with 25,000 people and a low crime rate.
The city has had a steady one in 1000 crime rate for three years.
Its property crime rate of 18.8 per 1000 was a little higher in 2022 than in previous years but still well below the state average.
Derby had 29 violent crimes last year, and 10 of those were rapes.
While its overall violent crime rate is very low, the rate of rapes is above the national average.
Five Safety Tips for Traveling in Kansas
- Watch the weather. Especially in spring, tornadoes can rise suddenly. Heed warnings because tornadoes can be very destructive. In winter, there can be ice and snowstorms. Pay attention to road condition reports.
- Plan your trip and let family members know. Keep family members informed about where you are going and when you plan to return. Do not broadcast this on social media, but someone should know where you are so they can come looking if you do not show up.
- Keep your car in shape. There are many remote areas in Kansas, and it may be several miles to the next town or service station. Check your tires, fluid levels, and gas before you leave for the day. The next small town may not have a gas station.
- Lock up everything. Keep your car locked, and keep your valuables out of sight. Kansas is safe for the most part, but thieves look for opportunities. Leaving anything out unprotected in an invitation to someone for theft.
- Keep hydrated. Kansas can get very hot in summer, and it can get very dry. Drink a lot of liquids but steer clear of caffeine and alcohol as much as possible. If you are traveling on the roads, keep extra water in your car.
Kansas Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Kansas Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the highest crime rate in Kansas?
Independence, Kansas is a small town of 8,000 in the southeastern part of the state.
It is very rural, but it leads the state when violent crimes are in question at 1,094 per 100,000.
It is third in property crime at 4,128 in 100,000.
Both are above the national average.
It also has a high poverty and unemployment rate.
How dangerous is Wichita?
Wichita has 400,000 people and has been ranked the eighth most dangerous city in the nation among cities of more than 100,000 people.
Its crime rate is 146 percent higher than the national average.
Wichita’s rapes per 100,000 are almost three times the national average, and the assault rate is four times higher.
How dangerous is Kansas City?
Kansas City Kansas is smaller than the Missouri version of Kansas City, but it has more than its share of crime.
Kansas City has the eighth-most violent crime in the nation in 2020.
Kansas City averages 7.75 violent crimes per 100,000 people, and the national average is 4.1.
There were 38 property crimes per 100,000, and the national average is 20.
Are there a lot of rapes in Kansas?
Kansas is tied for 16th for the most rapes by state, with 49 per 100,000 people.
The national average is 42 per 100,000.
Kansas City and Wichita account for most of them.
Kansas offers a beautiful landscape with its amber waves of grain and wide-open spaces, but it’s important to remember that safety precautions should still be taken.
If you’re planning a trip to Kansas, it’s important to keep an eye on the weather and let someone know your travel plans. Additionally, make sure your car is in good condition and always lock your belongings. Staying hydrated is also crucial, especially in the hot and dry summer months.