Is Kansas City or Lawrence Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Lawrence is safer than Kansas City (Safety Score 26/100 vs 5/100), with a total crime rate of 2,627 per 100,000 versus 4,655 for Kansas City — 44% lower. Kansas City has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Lawrence has a 65% lower rate.
Kansas City — 1-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Lawrence — 4-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Kansas City, KS
Lawrence, KS
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Kansas City | Lawrence | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,655.0 | 2,627.4 | +2,027.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,048.5 | 470.8 | +577.7 |
| Murder Rate | 12.4 | 5.2 | +7.2 |
| Rape Rate | 67.8 | 74.5 | -6.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 93.9 | 33.1 | +60.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 873.1 | 348.7 | +524.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,606.5 | 2,156.6 | +1,449.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 442.7 | 229.7 | +213.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,271.7 | 1,762.3 | +509.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 892.0 | 164.5 | +727.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kansas City or Lawrence safer?
Lawrence is safer with a total crime rate of 2,627 per 100K vs 4,655 for Kansas City — a 44% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Kansas City has a violent crime rate of 1,048.5 per 100K while Lawrence has 470.8. Lawrence has lower violent crime.
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.
About Lawrence, KS
Lawrence, Kansas, home to the University of Kansas Jayhawks, sits on the Kansas River. This vibrant college town, with a population around 97,000, played a significant role in the Bleeding Kansas era. With a safety score of 26/100 and a population coverage of 96,636, Lawrence has a total crime rate of 2,627.4 per 100,000 residents.