Is Kansas City or Ottawa Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Ottawa is safer than Kansas City (Safety Score 64/100 vs 5/100), with a total crime rate of 1,260 per 100,000 versus 4,655 for Kansas City — 73% lower. Kansas City has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Ottawa has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Kansas City is 12.1x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Kansas City — 1-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Ottawa — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Kansas City, KS
Ottawa, KS
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Kansas City | Ottawa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,655.0 | 1,259.6 | +3,395.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,048.5 | 149.6 | +898.9 |
| Murder Rate | 12.4 | 0.0 | +12.4 |
| Rape Rate | 67.8 | 31.5 | +36.3 |
| Robbery Rate | 93.9 | 7.9 | +86.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 873.1 | 110.2 | +762.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,606.5 | 1,110.1 | +2,496.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 442.7 | 149.6 | +293.2 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,271.7 | 944.7 | +1,327.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 892.0 | 15.8 | +876.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kansas City or Ottawa safer?
Ottawa is safer with a total crime rate of 1,260 per 100K vs 4,655 for Kansas City — a 73% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Kansas City has a violent crime rate of 1,048.5 per 100K while Ottawa has 149.6. Ottawa 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 Ottawa, KS
Ottawa, Kansas, a town of around 12,000 residents, is the county seat of Franklin County. It was named after the Ottawa tribe, whose reservation once encompassed the area. The town is home to Ottawa University. With a safety score of 64/100 and a population coverage of 12,702, Ottawa has a total crime rate of 1,259.6 per 100,000 residents.