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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Merriam, KS has a Safety Score of 2/100 — higher crime than 98% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 6,021.9 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,918 of 2,971 US cities and #34 of 34 in Kansas.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Merriam, Kansas Safe?
Merriam, Kansas, a first-tier suburb of Kansas City, was once home to Merriam Park, a popular late 19th-century amusement park. Today, this city in Johnson County is known for its diverse housing stock and proximity to major highways.
Merriam has a safety score of 2/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 6,021.9 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Merriam ranks #34 out of 34 cities in Kansas and #2918 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 2nd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 98% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Merriam is motor vehicle theft, at 1,009.8 per 100K — 2.9x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.2x the national rate.
Year over year, Merriam's total crime rate decreased by 6.6%, with violent crime declining 23.5%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Merriam Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 47 | 435.4 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 9.3 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 8 | 74.1 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 2 | 18.5 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 36 | 333.5 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 603 | 5,586.4 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 34 | 315.0 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 460 | 4,261.6 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 109 | 1,009.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Merriam vs Kansas Average
How does Merriam's crime rate compare to the Kansas state average?
| Metric | Merriam | Kansas Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 435.4 | 475.8 | -8.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 5,586.4 | 2,197.1 | +154.3% |
| Murder Rate | 9.3 | 5.7 | +63.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 6,021.9 | 2,673.0 | +125.3% |
Merriam Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Merriam, Kansas.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10,794 | 6,021.9 | 435.4 | 5,586.4 |
| 2023 | 10,890 | 6,446.3 | 569.3 | 5,877.0 |
| 2022 | 10,928 | 6,405.6 | 686.3 | 5,719.3 |
| 2021 | 11,138 | 6,661.9 | 700.3 | 5,961.6 |
| 2020 | 11,087 | 6,629.4 | 478.0 | 6,151.4 |
| 2019 | 11,197 | 4,706.6 | 384.0 | 4,322.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Merriam, Kansas safe?
Merriam has a safety score of 2/100, meaning it has less crime than about 2% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 6,021.9 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Merriam is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Merriam, Kansas?
According to FBI data for 2024, Merriam has a violent crime rate of 435.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 5,586.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Merriam compare to the national average?
Merriam's total crime rate of 6,021.9 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 10,794 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Merriam?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Merriam include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Merriam safe to visit?
Like any city, Merriam has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 2/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.