Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Lawrence, KS has a Safety Score of 26/100 — higher crime than 74% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,627.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,205 of 2,971 US cities and #23 of 34 in Kansas.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Lawrence, Kansas Safe?
Lawrence, Kansas, home to the University of Kansas Jayhawks, sits on the Kansas River. This vibrant college town, with a population around 97,000, played a significant role in the Bleeding Kansas era.
Lawrence has a safety score of 26/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,627.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Lawrence ranks #23 out of 34 cities in Kansas and #2205 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 26th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 74% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Lawrence is rape, at 74.5 per 100K — 1.7x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.4x the national rate.
Year over year, Lawrence's total crime rate increased by 180.6%, with violent crime rising 200.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Lawrence Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 455 | 470.8 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 5 | 5.2 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 72 | 74.5 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 32 | 33.1 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 337 | 348.7 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 2,084 | 2,156.6 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 222 | 229.7 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,703 | 1,762.3 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 159 | 164.5 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Lawrence vs Kansas Average
How does Lawrence's crime rate compare to the Kansas state average?
| Metric | Lawrence | Kansas Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 470.8 | 475.8 | -1.0% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,156.6 | 2,197.1 | -1.8% |
| Murder Rate | 5.2 | 5.7 | -8.7% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,627.4 | 2,673.0 | -1.7% |
Lawrence Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Lawrence, Kansas.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 96,636 | 2,627.4 | 470.8 | 2,156.6 |
| 2023 | 96,232 | 936.3 | 156.9 | 779.4 |
| 2022 | 95,580 | 2,663.7 | 468.7 | 2,195.0 |
| 2021 | 99,530 | 2,832.3 | 451.1 | 2,381.2 |
| 2020 | 99,368 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lawrence, Kansas safe?
Lawrence has a safety score of 26/100, meaning it has less crime than about 26% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,627.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Lawrence is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Lawrence, Kansas?
According to FBI data for 2024, Lawrence has a violent crime rate of 470.8 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,156.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Lawrence compare to the national average?
Lawrence's total crime rate of 2,627.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 96,636 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Lawrence?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Lawrence include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Lawrence safe to visit?
Like any city, Lawrence has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 26/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.