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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Ottawa, KS has a Safety Score of 64/100 — safer than 64% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,259.6 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,061 of 2,971 US cities and #6 of 34 in Kansas.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Ottawa, Kansas Safe?
Ottawa, Kansas, a town of around 12,000 residents, is the county seat of Franklin County. It was named after the Ottawa tribe, whose reservation once encompassed the area. The town is home to Ottawa University.
Ottawa has a safety score of 64/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,259.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Ottawa ranks #6 out of 34 cities in Kansas and #1061 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 64th percentile for safety — safer than 64% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Ottawa are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Ottawa's total crime rate decreased by 44.7%, with violent crime declining 44.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Ottawa Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 19 | 149.6 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 4 | 31.5 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 7.9 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 14 | 110.2 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 141 | 1,110.1 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 19 | 149.6 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 120 | 944.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 2 | 15.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Ottawa vs Kansas Average
How does Ottawa's crime rate compare to the Kansas state average?
| Metric | Ottawa | Kansas Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 149.6 | 475.8 | -68.6% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,110.1 | 2,197.1 | -49.5% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 5.7 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,259.6 | 2,673.0 | -52.9% |
Ottawa Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Ottawa, Kansas.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12,702 | 1,259.6 | 149.6 | 1,110.1 |
| 2023 | 12,603 | 2,277.2 | 269.8 | 2,007.5 |
| 2022 | 12,586 | 2,383.6 | 405.2 | 1,978.4 |
| 2021 | 12,303 | 1,625.6 | 325.1 | 1,300.5 |
| 2020 | 12,212 | 2,350.2 | 327.6 | 2,022.6 |
| 2019 | 12,221 | 1,841.1 | 229.1 | 1,612.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ottawa, Kansas safe?
Ottawa has a safety score of 64/100, meaning it has less crime than about 64% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,259.6 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Ottawa is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Ottawa, Kansas?
According to FBI data for 2024, Ottawa has a violent crime rate of 149.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,110.1 per 100,000 residents.
How does Ottawa compare to the national average?
Ottawa's total crime rate of 1,259.6 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 12,702 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Ottawa?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Ottawa include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Ottawa safe to visit?
Like any city, Ottawa has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 64/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.