Is Liberal or Olathe Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Olathe is safer than Liberal (Safety Score 69/100 vs 60/100), with a total crime rate of 1,137 per 100,000 versus 1,397 for Liberal — 19% lower. Liberal has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Liberal has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Olathe is 8.0x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Liberal — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Olathe — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Liberal, KS
Olathe, KS
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Liberal | Olathe | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,396.6 | 1,137.3 | +259.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 255.9 | 196.0 | +59.8 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.0 | -2.0 |
| Rape Rate | 5.3 | 34.1 | -28.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 26.7 | 10.0 | +16.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 223.9 | 149.9 | +74.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,140.7 | 941.3 | +199.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 191.9 | 64.9 | +127.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 874.2 | 772.7 | +101.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 74.6 | 103.7 | -29.1 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Liberal or Olathe safer?
Olathe is safer with a total crime rate of 1,137 per 100K vs 1,397 for Liberal — a 19% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Liberal has a violent crime rate of 255.9 per 100K while Olathe has 196.0. Olathe has lower violent crime.
About Liberal, KS
Liberal, Kansas, named by railroad workers, sits in Seward County near the Oklahoma border. This agricultural hub is home to the annual Five State Motorcycle Run. Its population is approximately 20,000 residents. With a safety score of 60/100 and a population coverage of 18,760, Liberal has a total crime rate of 1,396.6 per 100,000 residents.
About Olathe, KS
Olathe, a major suburb southwest of Kansas City, was once a crucial stop on the Santa Fe Trail. With a population exceeding 140,000, it is the fourth-largest city in Kansas. With a safety score of 69/100 and a population coverage of 149,473, Olathe has a total crime rate of 1,137.3 per 100,000 residents.