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Lawrence, KS has a F safety grade (0/100) with a violent crime rate of 462 per 100,000 — 554% above the national average.
2026 data Free + no signup Authoritative source
Lawrence, KS Crime Rate & Safety
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Crime data sourced from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program, covering violent crime, property crime, and individual offense categories. Safety grades reflect a composite analysis of violent and property crime rates benchmarked against national averages. For context on how crime statistics are collected and what they mean for community safety, read our guide to understanding FBI crime data.
Is Lawrence, KS safe? Lawrence has a violent crime rate of 461.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, according to FBI Uniform Crime Report (UCR) data — 554% higher than the national average and 1% above the Kansas average. The city receives a safety grade of F (High Risk). Property crime rate: 2156.5/100K. Population: 96,636.
FBI UCR Data Snapshot: Lawrence, KS
Lawrence, KS — reporting population 96,636 in 2024 — recorded 446 violent crimes and 2,084 property crimes in the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program's Table 8 city-level submissions. The city's violent crime rate works out to 461.5 per 100,000 residents, while the property crime rate reaches 2156.5 per 100,000. Combining those two rates against national benchmarks yields a composite safety grade of F (High Risk), scoring 0 out of 100.
Within the violent crime count, aggravated assault accounted for 337 incidents, robbery 32, murder 5, and rape 72 in 2024. Property crime splits into larceny-theft (1,703), burglary (222), motor vehicle theft (159), and arson (11). Larceny-theft and other property offenses typically dominate city crime counts, and larceny-theft leads Lawrence's mix at 67.3% of all Part I offenses.
Against the national violent crime average, Lawrence runs 554% above the US benchmark, and 1% above the Kansas statewide rate. Translated to per-capita risk, the 2024 figures imply roughly a 1 in 38 statistical chance of being named in a crime report that year, narrowing to 1 in 217 for a violent offense. UCR figures reflect offenses reported to and submitted by local law enforcement and may undercount unreported crime.
Is Lawrence, KS Safe? Safety Assessment
Based on 2024 FBI crime data, Lawrence, KS receives a safety grade of F (High Risk) with a composite safety score of 0/100. Violent crime is 554% above the national average, indicating substantially higher risk than most US cities.
Your statistical chance of being a crime victim in Lawrence is approximately 1 in 38 , with a 1 in 217 chance of being a violent crime victim. The most common crime type is larceny-theft, accounting for 67% of all reported offenses.
Safety assessments are based on FBI UCR reported crime statistics. Actual safety varies by neighborhood, time of day, and individual circumstances. Crime reporting rates differ across jurisdictions.
Safety Overview
Safety Grade
F
High Risk
Score: 0/100
Violent Crime Rate
461.5/100K
violent crimes per 100K residents
+554% vs US
Property Crime Rate
2156.5/100K
property crimes per 100K residents
+528% vs US
Total Crimes
2,530
reported in 2024
Population
96,636
2024 Census-based estimate
Crime Breakdown (2024)
| Category | Count | Rate /100K |
|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 446 | 461.5 |
| Murder | 5 | 5.2 |
| Rape | 72 | 74.5 |
| Robbery | 32 | 33.1 |
| Aggravated Assault | 337 | 348.7 |
| Property Crime | 2,084 | 2156.5 |
| Burglary | 222 | 229.7 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,703 | 1762.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 159 | 164.5 |
| Arson | 11 | 11.4 |
Per-Capita Risk Assessment
Overall Crime Risk
1 in 38
Statistical chance of being a crime victim based on 2024 data
Violent Crime Risk
1 in 217
Statistical chance of being a violent crime victim
These are statistical averages based on reported crimes. Actual risk varies significantly by neighborhood, time of day, and individual circumstances.
Crime Type Distribution (2024)
Larceny-Theft 1,703 (67.3%)
Aggravated Assault 337 (13.3%)
Burglary 222 (8.8%)
Motor Vehicle Theft 159 (6.3%)
Rape 72 (2.8%)
Robbery 32 (1.3%)
Arson 11 (0.4%)
Murder 5 (0.2%)
Lawrence vs Kansas vs National Average
Lawrence
Violent461.5/100K
Property2156.5/100K
GradeF
Kansas
Violent456.2/100K
Property2090/100K
National Average
Violent70.6/100K
Property343.3/100K
Nearby Cities in Kansas
Compare Lawrence against neighboring cities in the same state, or use our side-by-side compare tool to benchmark two cities directly.
Wichita
F Pop: 395,486
Violent: 538.6/100K
Property: 2303/100K
Overland Park
F Pop: 196,875
Violent: 184.4/100K
Property: 1761.5/100K
Kansas City
F Pop: 153,363
Violent: 1047.2/100K
Property: 3606.5/100K
Olathe
F Pop: 149,473
Violent: 196/100K
Property: 941.3/100K
Topeka
F Pop: 125,156
Violent: 856.5/100K
Property: 3642.7/100K
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the crime rate in Lawrence, KS? ▼
Lawrence has a violent crime rate of 461.5 per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2156.5 per 100,000, based on 2024 FBI UCR data.
Is Lawrence, KS safe? ▼
Lawrence receives a safety grade of F (High Risk), with a safety score of 0/100. The violent crime rate is 554% above the national average and 1% above the Kansas average.
What is the population of Lawrence, KS? ▼
The reporting population for Lawrence is 96,636 as of 2024.
How many crimes were reported in Lawrence? ▼
In 2024, Lawrence reported 446 violent crimes and 2,084 property crimes, for a total of 2,530 reported offenses.
What are the odds of being a crime victim in Lawrence? ▼
Based on 2024 data, the statistical chance of being a crime victim in Lawrence is approximately 1 in 38, with a 1 in 217 chance of being a violent crime victim. These are statistical averages and actual risk varies by neighborhood and circumstance.
What is the most common crime in Lawrence? ▼
The most common crime type in Lawrence is larceny-theft, accounting for 67.3% of all reported crimes (1,703 incidents in 2024).
Understanding Crime Data
► ► ► ►
Understanding Crime Rates
How per-capita rates are calculated and what they mean
Violent vs Property Crime
Key differences between crime categories
FBI Crime Stats Explained
How the FBI collects and reports UCR data
Crime, Housing & Schools
How safety connects to housing costs and school quality
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Data as of 2024. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program.
Crime rates are calculated per 100,000 population. Not all agencies report complete data. FBI Crime in the United States (CIUS) Table 8. Population figures referenced from U.S. Census Bureau estimates where noted; state-level comparisons cross-check against state UCR programs.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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