Is Garden City or Kansas City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Garden City is safer than Kansas City (Safety Score 27/100 vs 5/100), with a total crime rate of 2,596 per 100,000 versus 4,655 for Kansas City — 44% lower. Garden City has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Garden City has a 70% lower rate.
Note: Kansas City is 5.6x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Garden City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Kansas City — 1-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Garden City, KS
Kansas City, KS
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Garden City | Kansas City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,596.1 | 4,655.0 | -2,058.9 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 515.5 | 1,048.5 | -533.0 |
| Murder Rate | 3.7 | 12.4 | -8.7 |
| Rape Rate | 58.9 | 67.8 | -8.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 55.2 | 93.9 | -38.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 394.0 | 873.1 | -479.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,080.6 | 3,606.5 | -1,525.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 154.7 | 442.7 | -288.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,778.6 | 2,271.7 | -493.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 147.3 | 892.0 | -744.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Garden City or Kansas City safer?
Garden City is safer with a total crime rate of 2,596 per 100K vs 4,655 for Kansas City — a 44% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Garden City has a violent crime rate of 515.5 per 100K while Kansas City has 1,048.5. Garden City has lower violent crime.
About Garden City, KS
Garden City, the "Air Capital of the West," lies in southwest Kansas. This agricultural hub, home to a large meatpacking industry, has experienced significant demographic shifts. With a safety score of 27/100 and a population coverage of 27,156, Garden City has a total crime rate of 2,596.1 per 100,000 residents.
About Kansas City, KS
Kansas City, Kansas, part of the larger KC metro area, is the county seat of Wyandotte County. Its historic Strawberry Hill neighborhood reflects the city's rich Eastern European immigrant heritage. Situated at the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers, it's a key transportation hub. With a safety score of 5/100 and a population coverage of 153,363, Kansas City has a total crime rate of 4,655.0 per 100,000 residents.