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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Topeka, KS has a Safety Score of 6/100 — higher crime than 94% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,499.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,789 of 2,957 US cities and #30 of 33 in Kansas.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Topeka, KS?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Topeka, Kansas Safe?
Topeka, the capital of Kansas, is home to the historic Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site. This city in Shawnee County has a diverse population, with a significant portion identifying as white and Black.
Topeka has a safety score of 6/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,499.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Topeka ranks #30 out of 33 cities in Kansas and #2789 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 6th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 94% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Topeka is murder, at 16.0 per 100K — 2.5x the national average.
Year over year, Topeka's total crime rate decreased by 11%, with violent crime declining 11.3%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Topeka Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 1,072 | 856.5 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 20 | 16.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 59 | 47.1 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 101 | 80.7 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 892 | 712.7 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 4,559 | 3,642.7 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 798 | 637.6 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 3,135 | 2,504.9 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 626 | 500.2 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Topeka vs Kansas Average
How does Topeka's crime rate compare to the Kansas state average?
| Metric | Topeka | Kansas Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 856.5 | 483.9 | +77.0% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,642.7 | 2,234.0 | +63.1% |
| Murder Rate | 16.0 | 5.8 | +177.9% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,499.2 | 2,717.9 | +65.5% |
Topeka Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Topeka, Kansas.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 125,156 | 4,499.2 | 856.5 | 3,642.7 |
| 2023 | 124,967 | 5,053.3 | 965.9 | 4,087.5 |
| 2022 | 125,658 | 4,672.2 | 964.5 | 3,707.7 |
| 2021 | 124,227 | 5,133.3 | 866.2 | 4,267.2 |
| 2019 | 125,655 | 5,703.7 | 713.1 | 4,990.7 |
Topeka Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Topeka 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 Topeka, Kansas safe?
Topeka has a safety score of 6/100, meaning it has less crime than about 6% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,499.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Topeka is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Topeka, Kansas?
According to FBI data for 2024, Topeka has a violent crime rate of 856.5 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,642.7 per 100,000 residents.
How does Topeka compare to the national average?
Topeka's total crime rate of 4,499.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 125,156 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Topeka?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Topeka are larceny-theft (3,135 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (892 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 4.3x in the city.
Is Topeka safe to visit?
Like any city, Topeka has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 6/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.