Ottawa County Crime & Safety

Ottawa County, Kansas

Safety Score

63/100

Higher = safer

Safety Rating

Average

Total Crime Rate

849.5

per 100K population

Crime Statistics

Violent Crime Rate

329.4

per 100K population

National avg 380.7

Property Crime Rate

520.1

per 100K population

National avg 1954.4

Safety Score

63/100

Higher = safer

State avg 52/100

State Safety Rank

#44

of 105 counties (1 = safest)

Data Story

About Crime & Safety in Ottawa County, Kansas

Ottawa County outperforms national safety trends

Ottawa County reports 849.5 total crimes per 100K, which is far lower than the national average of 2,385.5. This earns the county a safety score of 98.7 out of 100.

Beating the Kansas state safety average

The county’s safety score of 98.7 sits above the Kansas average of 98.0. Its total crime rate of 849.5 is also lower than the state average of 1282.2.

Violent crime rates require local attention

Ottawa's violent crime rate of 329.4 is higher than the state average of 235.9. This suggests that while total crime is low, violent incidents are more frequent here than in some neighboring areas.

A mix of property and violent crime

Property crime sits at 520.1 per 100K, while violent crime accounts for 329.4. These numbers indicate that public safety efforts must balance theft prevention with personal safety.

Focus on comprehensive home safety

Because violent crime rates are slightly elevated, home security should include both theft prevention and personal safety measures. Motion sensors and reinforced entries provide an extra layer of protection.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the crime rate in Ottawa County, KS?

Ottawa County has a total crime rate of 849.5 per 100,000 residents, based on FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data. This includes both violent crimes (329.4 per 100K) and property crimes (520.1 per 100K).

Is Ottawa County, KS safe?

Ottawa County has a safety score of 63/100, rated "Average". A higher safety score indicates lower crime rates relative to other counties nationwide. It ranks #44 out of 105 counties in Kansas for safety (1 = safest).

How does Ottawa County crime compare to the Kansas average?

The county’s safety score of 98.7 sits above the Kansas average of 98.0. Its total crime rate of 849.5 is also lower than the state average of 1282.2.

What types of crime are most common in Ottawa County?

Property crime sits at 520.1 per 100K, while violent crime accounts for 329.4. These numbers indicate that public safety efforts must balance theft prevention with personal safety.

How is crime data measured and reported for Ottawa County?

Crime data for Ottawa County comes from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. Local law enforcement agencies submit data on violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) and property crimes (burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft) to the FBI. Rates are calculated per 100,000 residents to allow fair comparison between counties of different sizes. The safety score (0-100) is derived from these rates, with higher scores indicating safer counties.

Why is Ottawa County safer than the Kansas average?

Ottawa County has a safety score of 63/100, which is above the Kansas average of 52/100. Factors such as local law enforcement effectiveness, community programs, socioeconomic conditions, and population density all contribute to lower crime rates in certain counties.