Is Kansas City or Topeka Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Topeka is safer than Kansas City (Safety Score 6/100 vs 5/100), with a total crime rate of 4,499 per 100,000 versus 4,655 for Kansas City — 3% lower. Kansas City has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Kansas City has a 22% lower rate.
Kansas City — 1-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Topeka — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Kansas City, KS
Topeka, KS
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Kansas City | Topeka | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,655.0 | 4,499.2 | +155.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,048.5 | 856.5 | +192.0 |
| Murder Rate | 12.4 | 16.0 | -3.6 |
| Rape Rate | 67.8 | 47.1 | +20.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 93.9 | 80.7 | +13.2 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 873.1 | 712.7 | +160.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,606.5 | 3,642.7 | -36.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 442.7 | 637.6 | -194.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,271.7 | 2,504.9 | -233.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 892.0 | 500.2 | +391.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kansas City or Topeka safer?
Topeka is safer with a total crime rate of 4,499 per 100K vs 4,655 for Kansas City — a 3% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Kansas City has a violent crime rate of 1,048.5 per 100K while Topeka has 856.5. Topeka 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 Topeka, KS
Topeka, the capital of Kansas, is home to the historic Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site. This city in Shawnee County has a diverse population, with a significant portion identifying as white and Black. With a safety score of 6/100 and a population coverage of 125,156, Topeka has a total crime rate of 4,499.2 per 100,000 residents.