Is Fort Smith or Topeka Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Topeka is safer than Fort Smith (Safety Score 6/100 vs 5/100), with a total crime rate of 4,499 per 100,000 versus 4,528 for Fort Smith — 1% lower. Fort Smith has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Fort Smith has a 100% lower rate.
Fort Smith — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Topeka — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Fort Smith, AR
Topeka, KS
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Fort Smith | Topeka | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,527.8 | 4,499.2 | +28.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 843.6 | 856.5 | -13.0 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 16.0 | -16.0 |
| Rape Rate | 90.0 | 47.1 | +42.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 65.6 | 80.7 | -15.1 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 686.8 | 712.7 | -25.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,684.3 | 3,642.7 | +41.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 466.8 | 637.6 | -170.8 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,904.1 | 2,504.9 | +399.2 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 313.4 | 500.2 | -186.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fort Smith or Topeka safer?
Topeka is safer with a total crime rate of 4,499 per 100K vs 4,528 for Fort Smith — a 1% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Fort Smith has a violent crime rate of 843.6 per 100K while Topeka has 856.5. Fort Smith has lower violent crime.
About Fort Smith, AR
Fort Smith, once a frontier military post, sits on the Arkansas River bordering Oklahoma. This city of over 89,000 residents is the second-largest urban area in Arkansas. With a safety score of 5/100 and a population coverage of 89,977, Fort Smith has a total crime rate of 4,527.8 per 100,000 residents.
About Topeka, KS
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. With a safety score of 6/100 and a population coverage of 125,156, Topeka has a total crime rate of 4,499.2 per 100,000 residents.