Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 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 #2,189 of 2,957 US cities and #22 of 33 in Kansas.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Lawrence, KS?
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, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,627.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Lawrence ranks #22 out of 33 cities in Kansas and #2189 out of 2957 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
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 455 | 470.8 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 5 | 5.2 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 72 | 74.5 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 32 | 33.1 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 337 | 348.7 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 2,084 | 2,156.6 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 222 | 229.7 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,703 | 1,762.3 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 159 | 164.5 | 358.0 |
| 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 | 483.9 | -2.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,156.6 | 2,234.0 | -3.5% |
| Murder Rate | 5.2 | 5.8 | -10.1% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,627.4 | 2,717.9 | -3.3% |
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 |
Lawrence Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Lawrence and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Kansas crime map.
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 are larceny-theft (1,703 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (337 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 4.6x in the city.
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.