Kansas City Neighborhoods: Crime & Safety

by Katie Krueger | Dec 14, 2022

Jazz. Sports. Barbecue. If you have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore, you’re right. This Kansas City is in Missouri. It’s a great place, full of culture and bursting with opportunities, but just how safe is Kansas City? Whether you’re visiting or relocating, it’s smart to get a picture of the crime rates in different Kansas City neighborhoods and what you can do to stay safe.

Kansas City Crime Rate

Is Kansas City dangerous? It certainly can be.

Crime in Kansas City far exceeds the average. According to Kansas City Police Department dashboards, the city receives anywhere from 21,000 to 28,000 emergency calls per month. Up to 44% of these calls concern criminal or suspicious activity.

Based on the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System, the city saw 29,160 crimes in 2021. In a city of approximately 508,000 people, that’s a rate of 57.4 crimes per 1,000 residents. To put things in perspective, the FBI estimated the nationwide crime rate to be 23.3 crimes per 1,000 residents and Missouri’s statewide crime rate to be 27.5 crimes per 1,000 residents over the same time period.

In other words, the Kansas City crime rate is more than double the national or state average.

The most common crimes in Kansas City, MO?

Simple assault (6,923 reports in 2021)
Aggravated assault (5,933 reports)
Theft from a motor vehicle (5,583 reports)
Vandalism (4,789 reports)
Motor vehicle theft (4,789 reports)

Homicide is also a major concern. A recent analysis from Wallet Hub found that Kansas City has had the greatest year-over-year increase in homicide cases out of any U.S. city. It also has the second-highest homicide per capita rate, topped only by St. Louis, Missouri.

Of course, safety is more than just crime statistics. In a Niche.com poll, 78% of respondents rated Kansas city as “very safe” or “pretty safe.” A visible, active law enforcement presence might have something to do with this perception.

Is Kansas City, Missouri, safe? Perhaps, with appropriate cautionary measures. One of those measures is choosing the safest neighborhood.

Safest Neighborhoods in Kansas City

If you’re planning to spend time there, it’s wise to brush up on the safest areas in Kansas City. These are where you’ll likely want to work, live, or visit. According to NeighborhoodScout, the top 10 safest neighborhoods in Kansas City are:

Thousand Oaks / Kc Saddle Club Estates
Ferrelview
Staley Farms
Woodneath Farms / Copper leaf
Shoal Creek
Benson Place / Brentwood
Nashua
Blue Hills Estates / New Santa Fe
Roosterville
Amber Meadows / Barrington Ridge

These areas have some notable similarities. For one, they’re all far from downtown. In addition, most are on the northern end of the city, adjoining relatively low-crime suburbs like Smithville and Kearney.

Least Safe Neighborhoods in Kansas City

Just as there are safer areas, there are also more dangerous areas. Here are the worst neighborhoods in Kansas City for violent crime, as ranked by AreaVibes:

Marlborough East (54.6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents)
Hidden Valley (52.1 per 1,000)
South Blue Valley (51.8 per 1,000)
Blue Hills (51.0 per 1,000)
Santa Fe (50.7 per 1,000)
Manheim Park (48.6 per 1,000)
Central Blue Valley-Park Tower Garde (48.1 per 1,000)
East Community Team North (45.7 per 1,000)
Oak Park Southwest (44.3 per 1,000)
Vineyard (44.3 per 1,000)

In Marlborough East, violent crime is a shocking 244% higher than in Kansas City as a whole. That’s to say nothing of property crime rates. As you might expect, most of these neighborhoods are clustered near the city’s downtown area.

Stay aware of your surroundings and use caution if you find yourself in these neighborhoods. (More on that below.)

Best Kansas City Neighborhoods: Other Factors

It’s likely that safety isn’t your only consideration. Here are a few other Kansas City neighborhoods to look at, depending on what’s most important to you.

Top-rated public schools (from Niche):

Nearby Overland Park, KS
Shoal Creek Valley
Gashland/Nashua
Line Creek Valley
KCI

Unsurprisingly, Niche also rates these areas as the best neighborhoods in Kansas City for families.

Greatest income growth (from NeighborhoodScout):

River Market
Central Hyde Park
North Town Fork Creek
Longfellow
Martin City

Most affordable (from AreaVibes):

Mount Hope
South Blue Valley
Northest Industrial District
Norble and Gregory Ridge
Oak Park Southwest

Highest real estate appreciation (from NeighborhoodScout):

South Hyde Park
Westside North / Westside South
18th and Vine and Downtown East / Downtown East
Crossroads
Columbus Park

Most walkable (from Redfin)

Old Westport
Crossroads
Southmoreland
Hanover Place
South Plaza

With so many Kansas city neighborhoods and suburbs to choose from, you’re sure to find one you love.

Staying Safe in Kansas City, MO

Even if you’re in one of the safest places to live in Kansas City, it’s still important to take precautions. Try out these important home security tips to bring your family peace of mind.

First, examine your home from the perspective of a criminal. Look for weaknesses and ways to make your home a less appealing target. You can actually alter the design of your home or land to make yourself less vulnerable to crime. This concept is the basis of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). Try installing floodlights, eliminating blind spots, and planting prickly bushes under windows for a start.

Next, familiarize yourself with your local law enforcement agency. Kansas City has Community Interaction Officers for each of its six divisions. These officers can answer your questions about proactive crime prevention.

And most importantly, install home security cameras. Visible cameras deter criminals, and footage can be invaluable in the event of a crime. Deep Sentinel’s smart camera system integrates AI with live security monitoring to give you unrivaled protection and industry-leading response times.

No matter which of the many Kansas City neighborhoods you live in or visit, you’ll feel safer knowing that Deep Sentinel is on your side.