Hays, KS Crime Rate & Safety
Lower crime than 77% of major U.S. cities
Based on FBI UCR & local law enforcement data · Updated April 2026
Is Hays Safe?
Yes — Hays is safer than most cities
An above-average city for safety with lower crime than the national average.
Hays has a crime rate that is 40% below the national average. Your chance of becoming a victim of violent crime is 1 in 441.
Crime Index Comparison
100 = national average. Calibrated to reflect actual crime severity.
Your Chance of Being a Victim
Violent Crime
1 in 441
chance per year
National average: 1 in 263
40% lower than national average
Property Crime
1 in 76
chance per year
National average: 1 in 55
28% lower than national average
Want to know the crime risk at your exact address?
Hays Crime Breakdown
Estimated crime rates based on FBI UCR data, calibrated to city-level crime score.
| Crime Type | Index | vs National | Risk Level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | ||||
|
Murder
|
61 | -39% | Low | |
|
Assault
|
59 | -41% | Low | |
|
Robbery
|
60 | -40% | Low | |
|
Rape
|
62 | -38% | Low | |
| Property Crime | ||||
|
Burglary
|
52 | -48% | Low | |
|
Larceny / Theft
|
68 | -32% | Low | |
|
Vehicle Theft
|
69 | -31% | Low | |
Violent vs Property Crime
Crime Index by Category
Hays Crime Map
Neighborhood-level crime heatmap. Click any area for details.
See the crime score for a specific address
Hays Crime by Zip Code
Explore crime data for specific Hays zip codes.
Hays Demographics & Context
Racial Demographics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the crime rate in Hays, KS?
Hays, KS has a crime safety grade of B+ as of 2026. The overall crime rate is estimated to be 40% below the national average. Residents face approximately a 1 in 441 chance of being a victim of violent crime per year and a 1 in 76 chance for property crime. Hays has lower crime than 77% of major U.S. cities (population 50,000+).
Is Hays, KS safe to live in?
Hays is generally considered a safe place to live, earning a crime grade of B+. However, safety varies significantly by neighborhood. Researching specific neighborhoods before moving to or visiting Hays is strongly recommended.
What is the violent crime rate in Hays?
The estimated violent crime rate in Hays is 226.9 per 100,000 residents, which is 40% lower than the national average. This means residents have roughly a 1 in 441 chance of becoming a violent crime victim each year. Key violent crime rates include: murder at 3.1 per 100K (39% below average); aggravated assault at 158.8 per 100K (41% below average); robbery at 44.1 per 100K (40% below average).
What is the property crime rate in Hays?
The estimated property crime rate in Hays is 1,315.7 per 100,000 residents, which is 28% lower than the national average. Residents have roughly a 1 in 76 chance of being a property crime victim per year. Key property crime rates include: burglary at 139.6 per 100K (48% below average); larceny/theft at 955.6 per 100K (32% below average); vehicle theft at 220.5 per 100K (31% below average).
How does Hays crime compare to the national average?
Hays's overall crime rate is 40% below the national average as of 2026. The biggest concern is vehicle theft (31% below average), while burglary is 48% below average. Compared to other major U.S. cities, Hays has lower crime than 77% of them.
Is Hays safe to visit?
Hays is generally safe for visitors and tourists. Property crime (theft, vehicle break-ins) is 28% below average, which is typically the main concern for tourists. Avoid leaving valuables in vehicles, stay aware of your surroundings in unfamiliar areas, and stick to well-traveled neighborhoods.
How does Hays crime compare to the rest of Kansas?
Kansas as a whole has crime that is 17% above the national average. Hays's crime rate is 40% below the national average, making it safer the typical Kansas city.
What type of crime is most common in Hays?
Larceny/theft is the most common crime in Hays, with an estimated rate of 955.6 incidents per 100,000 residents. This is 32% below the national average for this crime type. Overall, property crime (1,316 per 100K) is more prevalent than violent crime (227 per 100K) in Hays, which is consistent with national trends.