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C-

Is Wichita, Kansas Safe?

Population 400,987 · Safer than 28% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Wichita, Kansas sits below average for US cities. The C- grade comes from a 231.5 crime rate per 1,000 and violent crime close to the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,218 per 100K.

Wichita Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricWichitaKansas AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate312.6316.1363.8
Property Crime Rate2002.92034.11,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate256.0--268.2
Theft Rate1218.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate256.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyC-

231.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

313/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

2003/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Wichita

Violent crime in Wichita is close to the national average. The rate of 312.6 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 2002.9 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,218 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Wichita Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault256
095% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery55
087% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary390
01.4x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,218
087% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft256
080% of avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Wichita Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Wichita
312.6
State
316.1
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Wichita
2002.9
State
2034.1
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wichita Safety

Is Wichita safe?
Not especially. Wichita earns a C- with a crime rate of 231.5 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Wichita?
231.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 312.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2002.9 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Wichita safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Wichita's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,218 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Wichita?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Wichita generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Wichita police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Wichita?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Wichita's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C- grade overall.
How does Wichita compare to other cities in Kansas?
Below average for the state. Wichita ranks behind about 62% of Kansas cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Wichita to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Wichita?
Bad. A C- grade and 231.5 per-thousand rate put Wichita below 72% of US cities. Violent crime at 313 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Wichita?
312.6 per 100,000, which is 14% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (256), robbery (55), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Kansas

Similar-sized communities in Kansas. Compare crime rates across the state.

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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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