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Merriam vs Topeka Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Merriam crime rate · Topeka crime rate

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Is Merriam or Topeka Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Topeka is safer than Merriam (Safety Score 6/100 vs 2/100), with a total crime rate of 4,499 per 100,000 versus 6,022 for Merriam — 25% lower. Merriam has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Merriam has a 77% lower rate.

Note: Topeka is 11.6x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Merriam, KS?

Merriam — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Topeka — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Merriam, KS

Merriam, KS
Safety Score 2/100
Coverage 10,794
Total Crime Rate 6,021.9
Category Wins 4/7

Topeka, KS

Topeka, KS
Safety Score 6/100
Coverage 125,156
Total Crime Rate 4,499.2
Category Wins 3/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Merriam Topeka Difference
Total Crime Rate 6,021.9 4,499.2 +1,522.7
Violent Crime Rate 435.4 856.5 -421.1
Murder Rate 9.3 16.0 -6.7
Rape Rate 74.1 47.1 +27.0
Robbery Rate 18.5 80.7 -62.2
Aggravated Assault Rate 333.5 712.7 -379.2
Property Crime Rate 5,586.4 3,642.7 +1,943.8
Burglary Rate 315.0 637.6 -322.6
Larceny-Theft Rate 4,261.6 2,504.9 +1,756.8
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 1,009.8 500.2 +509.6

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Merriam, KS to Topeka, KS?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Merriam or Topeka safer?

Topeka is safer with a total crime rate of 4,499 per 100K vs 6,022 for Merriam — a 25% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Merriam has a violent crime rate of 435.4 per 100K while Topeka has 856.5. Merriam has lower violent crime.

About Merriam, KS

Merriam, Kansas, a first-tier suburb of Kansas City, was once home to Merriam Park, a popular late 19th-century amusement park. Today, this city in Johnson County is known for its diverse housing stock and proximity to major highways. With a safety score of 2/100 and a population coverage of 10,794, Merriam has a total crime rate of 6,021.9 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.

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