Is Hays or Olathe Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Olathe is safer than Hays (Safety Score 69/100 vs 50/100), with a total crime rate of 1,137 per 100,000 versus 1,694 for Hays — 33% lower. Hays has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Hays has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Olathe is 7.1x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Hays — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Olathe — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Hays, KS
Olathe, KS
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Hays | Olathe | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,694.4 | 1,137.3 | +557.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 233.2 | 196.0 | +37.2 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.0 | -2.0 |
| Rape Rate | 57.1 | 34.1 | +23.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 9.5 | 10.0 | -0.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 166.6 | 149.9 | +16.7 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,461.1 | 941.3 | +519.8 |
| Burglary Rate | 171.3 | 64.9 | +106.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,218.4 | 772.7 | +445.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 71.4 | 103.7 | -32.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hays or Olathe safer?
Olathe is safer with a total crime rate of 1,137 per 100K vs 1,694 for Hays — a 33% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Hays has a violent crime rate of 233.2 per 100K while Olathe has 196.0. Olathe has lower violent crime.
About Hays, KS
Hays, Kansas, once a frontier outpost for Fort Hays, is a city in Ellis County with a population of around 21,000. Located on I-70 in the High Plains, it's home to Fort Hays State University. With a safety score of 50/100 and a population coverage of 21,011, Hays has a total crime rate of 1,694.4 per 100,000 residents.
About Olathe, KS
Olathe, a major suburb southwest of Kansas City, was once a crucial stop on the Santa Fe Trail. With a population exceeding 140,000, it is the fourth-largest city in Kansas. With a safety score of 69/100 and a population coverage of 149,473, Olathe has a total crime rate of 1,137.3 per 100,000 residents.