Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Hays, KS has a Safety Score of 50/100 — safer than 50% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,694.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,491 of 2,971 US cities and #16 of 34 in Kansas.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Hays, Kansas Safe?
Hays, Kansas, once a frontier outpost for Fort Hays, is a city in Ellis County with a population of around 21,000. Located on I-70 in the High Plains, it's home to Fort Hays State University.
Hays has a safety score of 50/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,694.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Hays ranks #16 out of 34 cities in Kansas and #1491 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 50th percentile for safety — safer than 50% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Hays is rape, at 57.1 per 100K — 1.3x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Hays's total crime rate decreased by 27.1%, with violent crime declining 50.7%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Hays Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 49 | 233.2 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 12 | 57.1 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 2 | 9.5 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 35 | 166.6 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 307 | 1,461.1 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 36 | 171.3 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 256 | 1,218.4 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 15 | 71.4 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Hays vs Kansas Average
How does Hays's crime rate compare to the Kansas state average?
| Metric | Hays | Kansas Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 233.2 | 475.8 | -51.0% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,461.1 | 2,197.1 | -33.5% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 5.7 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,694.4 | 2,673.0 | -36.6% |
Hays Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Hays, Kansas.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 21,011 | 1,694.4 | 233.2 | 1,461.1 |
| 2022 | 20,696 | 2,324.1 | 473.5 | 1,850.6 |
| 2021 | 20,861 | 2,411.2 | 465.0 | 1,946.2 |
| 2020 | 20,769 | 2,508.6 | 332.2 | 2,176.3 |
| 2019 | 20,894 | 1,981.4 | 268.0 | 1,713.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hays, Kansas safe?
Hays has a safety score of 50/100, meaning it has less crime than about 50% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,694.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Hays is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Hays, Kansas?
According to FBI data for 2024, Hays has a violent crime rate of 233.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,461.1 per 100,000 residents.
How does Hays compare to the national average?
Hays's total crime rate of 1,694.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 21,011 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Hays?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Hays include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Hays safe to visit?
Like any city, Hays has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 50/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.