Is Kansas City or Portsmouth Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Portsmouth is safer than Kansas City (Safety Score 5/100 vs 5/100), with a total crime rate of 4,613 per 100,000 versus 4,655 for Kansas City — 1% lower. Kansas City has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Kansas City has a 67% lower rate.
Kansas City — 1-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Portsmouth — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Kansas City, KS
Portsmouth, VA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Kansas City | Portsmouth | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,655.0 | 4,613.2 | +41.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,048.5 | 752.4 | +296.1 |
| Murder Rate | 12.4 | 37.1 | -24.7 |
| Rape Rate | 67.8 | 36.0 | +31.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 93.9 | 167.8 | -73.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 873.1 | 511.6 | +361.5 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,606.5 | 3,860.8 | -254.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 442.7 | 424.1 | +18.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,271.7 | 2,920.1 | -648.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 892.0 | 516.7 | +375.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kansas City or Portsmouth safer?
Portsmouth is safer with a total crime rate of 4,613 per 100K vs 4,655 for Kansas City — a 1% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Kansas City has a violent crime rate of 1,048.5 per 100K while Portsmouth has 752.4. Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth, VA
Portsmouth, Virginia, established in 1752, sits across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk. Home to the historic Gosport Shipyard, it's a diverse city with a significant African American population. With a safety score of 5/100 and a population coverage of 97,156, Portsmouth has a total crime rate of 4,613.2 per 100,000 residents.