Share

Hays vs Wichita Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Hays crime rate · Wichita crime rate

Moving from Hays, KS to Wichita, KS?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Is Hays or Wichita Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Hays is safer than Wichita (Safety Score 50/100 vs 22/100), with a total crime rate of 1,694 per 100,000 versus 2,842 for Wichita — 40% lower. Hays has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Hays has a 100% lower rate.

Note: Wichita is 18.8x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Hays, KS?

Hays — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Wichita — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Hays, KS

Hays, KS
Safety Score 50/100
Coverage 21,011
Total Crime Rate 1,694.4
Category Wins 7/7

Wichita, KS

Wichita, KS
Safety Score 22/100
Coverage 395,486
Total Crime Rate 2,841.8
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Hays Wichita Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,694.4 2,841.8 -1,147.5
Violent Crime Rate 233.2 538.8 -305.6
Murder Rate 0.0 8.3 -8.3
Rape Rate 57.1 33.1 +24.0
Robbery Rate 9.5 49.8 -40.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 166.6 447.3 -280.7
Property Crime Rate 1,461.1 2,303.0 -841.9
Burglary Rate 171.3 262.7 -91.4
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,218.4 1,791.0 -572.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 71.4 249.3 -177.9

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Hays, KS to Wichita, KS?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hays or Wichita safer?

Hays is safer with a total crime rate of 1,694 per 100K vs 2,842 for Wichita — a 40% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Hays has a violent crime rate of 233.2 per 100K while Wichita has 538.8. Hays 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 Wichita, KS

Wichita, the "Air Capital of the World," is a landlocked city in south-central Kansas. Its population is diverse, with significant Hispanic and Vietnamese communities contributing to its cultural fabric. With a safety score of 22/100 and a population coverage of 395,486, Wichita has a total crime rate of 2,841.8 per 100,000 residents.

More Crime Rate Comparisons