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Safest Cities in Kansas (2026 Rankings)

Updated October 2026 · Based on 2024 FBI UCR data

Ottawa is the safest city in Kansas with a crime rate of 19.4 per 1,000 residents, earning a B- safety grade. Merriam (19.4/1K) and Pittsburg (19.8/1K) round out the top three. Rankings based on 38 cities with 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Avg Crime Rate
22.6per 1K
Below National Avg
14of 38 cities
Above National Avg
24of 38 cities

All 38 Cities Ranked by Safety

#CityGradeCrime/1K
1Ottawa
B-
19.4
2Merriam
B-
19.4
3Pittsburg
B-
19.8
4Shawnee
B-
19.9
5Mission
B-
19.9
6Winfield
B-
20
7McPherson
B-
20.2
8Hutchinson
B-
20.4
9Bel Aire
B-
20.6
10Gardner
B-
20.7
11Spring Hill
B-
20.7
12Leawood
B-
21.1
13Wichita
B-
21.7
14Hays
B-
21.7
15El Dorado
B-
22.2
16Andover
B-
22.3
17Overland Park
B-
22.4
18Emporia
B-
22.7
19Lawrence
B-
22.8
20Prairie Village
B-
22.8
21Leavenworth
B-
22.9
22Lansing
C+
23.1
23Manhattan
C+
23.2
24Atchison
C+
23.2
25Arkansas City
C+
23.4
26Newton
C+
23.5
27Haysville
C+
23.5
28Liberal
C+
23.7
29Topeka
C+
23.9
30Junction City
C+
24.2
31Garden City
C+
24.8
32Derby
C+
25
33Salina
C+
25.1
34Dodge City
C+
25.4
35Great Bend
C+
25.5
36Lenexa
C+
25.7
37Kansas City
C+
25.9
38Olathe
C+
26.6

Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Most Dangerous Cities in Kansas

The highest crime rates among tracked cities in Kansas. These cities have the most crime per capita based on FBI data.

1
C+
Olathe26.6/1K · Moderate · Violent: 472/100K
2
C+
Kansas City25.9/1K · Moderate · Violent: 409/100K
3
C+
Lenexa25.7/1K · Moderate · Violent: 443/100K
4
C+
Great Bend25.5/1K · Moderate · Violent: 406/100K
5
C+
Dodge City25.4/1K · Moderate · Violent: 437/100K

Frequently Asked Questions About Safety in Kansas

What is the safest city in Kansas?
As of 2026, Ottawa is the safest city in Kansas with a crime rate of 19.4 per 1,000 residents and a B- safety grade. It ranks above 59% of all US cities.
What are the top 10 safest cities in Kansas?
Based on 2026 FBI Uniform Crime Report data, the top 10 safest cities in Kansas based on crime rate are: Ottawa, Merriam, Pittsburg, Shawnee, Mission, Winfield, McPherson, Hutchinson, Bel Aire, Gardner.
What is the most dangerous city in Kansas?
Olathe has the highest crime rate in Kansas at 26.6 per 1,000 residents, earning a C+ safety grade.
What is the average crime rate in Kansas?
The average crime rate across 38 tracked cities in Kansas is 22.6 per 1,000 residents. The average violent crime rate is 378 per 100K and property crime averages 1884 per 100K.
Is Kansas safe to live in?
Kansas has a higher-than-average violent crime rate at 378 per 100K (national: 363.8). However, safety varies widely by city. Ottawa earns a B- while Olathe gets a C+. 14 of 38 cities have crime rates at or below the national average.
How many cities are ranked in Kansas?
38 cities in Kansas are ranked using FBI Uniform Crime Report data. 14 have crime rates at or below the national average.
See 2027 rankings for Kansas →View all Kansas city safety gradesSafety index for all 50 states

2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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