Is Kansas City or Washington Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Washington is safer than Kansas City (Safety Score 56/100 vs 1/100), with a total crime rate of 1,496 per 100,000 versus 6,224 for Kansas City — 76% lower. Kansas City has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Washington has a 97% lower rate.
Note: Kansas City is 32.6x 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 — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Washington — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Kansas City, MO
Washington, MO
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Kansas City | Washington | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 6,224.4 | 1,496.2 | +4,728.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,547.4 | 254.7 | +1,292.7 |
| Murder Rate | 27.6 | 6.4 | +21.2 |
| Rape Rate | 74.7 | 44.6 | +30.1 |
| Robbery Rate | 254.0 | 6.4 | +247.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 1,191.2 | 197.4 | +993.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,677.0 | 1,241.5 | +3,435.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 490.4 | 76.4 | +414.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,454.9 | 1,069.6 | +1,385.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 1,731.8 | 95.5 | +1,636.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kansas City or Washington safer?
Washington is safer with a total crime rate of 1,496 per 100K vs 6,224 for Kansas City — a 76% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Kansas City has a violent crime rate of 1,547.4 per 100K while Washington has 254.7. Washington has lower violent crime.
About Kansas City, MO
Kansas City, Missouri, straddles the Missouri River and is known for its distinct barbecue style. It's the largest city in Missouri by population, with a diverse metropolitan area. With a safety score of 1/100 and a population coverage of 511,437, Kansas City has a total crime rate of 6,224.4 per 100,000 residents.
About Washington, MO
Washington, Missouri, known for its historic German heritage and the Missouri Meerschaum Corncob Pipe Company, is a city in Franklin County along the Missouri River. Its population was estimated at 14,932 in 2022. With a safety score of 56/100 and a population coverage of 15,707, Washington has a total crime rate of 1,496.2 per 100,000 residents.