F
173%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
86%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
189%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleMerriam/100k peopleKansas/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime693n/a (estimate)6,3422,4072,324
Murder2n/a18.34.66.3
Rape3n/a27.545.540.0
Robbery10n/a91.529.266.1
Assault60n/a549.0335.4268.2
Violent crime75n/a (estimate)686415370
Burglary21n/a192.2273.4269.8
Theft472n/a4,319.21,488.71,401.9
Vehicle theft125n/a1,143.8230.2282.7
Property crime618n/a (estimate)5,6551,9921,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Merriam, KS

The Merriam crime rates are 172.9% higher than the national average. There are two main categories of crime - violent crime and property crime. Violent crime consists of murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. There were a total of 75 violent crimes in Merriam (686 per 100,000 people), which is 85.6% higher than the national average and there were a total of 618 property crimes (5655 per 100,000 residents) which is 189.4% higher than average.

In Merriam, the crime rate stands at 6342 per 100,000 residents, surpassing the national average by 172.85%. This places the city among those with some of the highest total crime rates nationwide. However, it's important to recognize that this doesn't imply that the entire city is unsafe. As with any urban area, there are neighborhoods in Merriam that exhibit varying levels of safety, emphasizing the need for localized crime prevention efforts and community involvement to create a safe environment across the entire city.

While murder rates in the United States have generally declined since 1990, recent years have seen an unfortunate uptick. Merriam stands out with one of the nation's highest murder rates among cities reporting crime data. In Merriam, a total of 2 murders were reported, equating to 18 murders per 100,000 residents. This statistic underscores the challenges facing the area in terms of severe violent crime and the importance of ongoing efforts to enhance safety and security within the community.

Merriam has some of the highest property crime rates in the country with 5655 crimes per 100,000 people - this ranks in the bottom 10% of all American cities that reported crime. Your chance of being a victim of property crime in Merriam is 1 in 18, which is far higher than the national average.

The surge in vehicle thefts is a concerning trend across the United States, and Merriam is no exception, experiencing one of the nation's highest vehicle theft rates. Last year, Merriam reported a total of 125 vehicle thefts, resulting in 1144 stolen vehicles per 100,000 people. This places the city in the lowest 10% tier among all cities, indicating that 90% of cities have less stolen vehicles. The probability of a vehicle being stolen stands at 1 in 88, underscoring the need for heightened vigilance and security measures.

Is Merriam a Safe Place to Live?

To get a feel for the safety of living in Merriam, it's essential to analyze both the overall crime rate and the daily incident count. Merriam presents a total crime rate that is 173% higher than the national average per 100,000 residents. Consequently, Merriam experiences an average of 1.9 daily crimes, comprising 0.21 violent incidents and 1.69 property-related offenses. This evaluation offers a comprehensive understanding of the safety landscape, aiding individuals in making informed decisions when considering relocation.

Has Crime in Merriam Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime rates in Merriam has decreased by 5.6% in the last reported crime report. Comparing crime rates from one year to another offers some insight into whether or not Merriam is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live. Crime rates are categorized by violent and property crime. Year-over-year violent crime has decreased by 1.3%, while property crime has decreased by 6.1%. This analysis equips individuals with crucial information for making informed decisions about living in Merriam.

Potential Causes for Crime in Merriam

In Merriam, 90.3% of residents have graduated from high school, whereas the national average stands at 83%. The educational makeup of a community can exert a significant influence on crime rates. Typically, higher levels of educational attainment are associated with reduced crime rates, as they furnish individuals with improved employment prospects and viable alternatives to engaging in criminal activities. Conversely, communities characterized by lower educational achievement often grapple with higher crime rates, as limited opportunities may drive individuals towards criminal behavior.

The median home price in Merriam is $187,500, compared to the national average of $184,700. High housing costs can lead to financial stress for residents. When individuals struggle to make ends meet due to expensive housing, they may be more inclined to engage in criminal activities to address their financial difficulties, such as theft or fraud. Communities with stable housing environments tend to foster stronger social bonds and community engagement. This can lead to increased vigilance and cooperation among residents, which can deter criminal behavior.

High rental costs can limit economic mobility, making it difficult for individuals to save money, invest in education, or access better job opportunities. This can perpetuate a cycle of poverty and increase the risk of involvement in criminal activities. In summary, high rental costs can create economic challenges, overcrowding, and neighborhood dynamics that may increase the likelihood of certain types of crime, particularly property crimes. In Merriam, the average rental rates are $967 per month, compared to the national average of $949.

Merriam crime map



The Merriam crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Merriam as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Merriam crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Merriam crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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Compare Merriam, KS Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Merriam crime rates are 173% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Merriam are 86% higher than the national average
      • In Merriam you have a 1 in 16 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Merriam is safer than 4% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Merriam has decreased by 4%

      Merriam, KS Crime Quiz

         

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        Daily Crime In Merriam (per 100,000 people)

        The chart above shows the number of daily crimes in Merriam, KS per 100,000 people. In Merriam, the number of daily crimes is projected to be 2.63 times more than the Kansas average and 2.73 times more than the national average. The average number of daily violent crimes in Merriam is 1.66 times more than the Kansas average and 1.86 times more than the daily national average. With regards to property crimes, Merriam has a daily crime rate that is 2.84 times more than the Kansas average and 2.89 times more than the overall daily national average.

        How Safe is Merriam (higher is better)

        What are the odds that you'll be safer in Merriam, Kansas compared to other areas of Kansas, as well as the rest of America? When it comes down to it, is Merriam safe? In the graphs above, it shows that Merriam is safer than 3% of Kansas cities, and 4% compared to all other cities across America. These statistics are calculated by taking a closer look at each city's crime rate in Kansas, as well as the rest of the US. It is then determined which cities see less crime than Merriam. At this time, Merriam sees a below average rate of crime in comparison to other United States cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Merriam

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Merriam is 1 in 146
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Merriam is 1 in 18
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Merriam is 1 in 16
        Are you at risk of becoming a victim of crime in Merriam, Kansas? If you reside in Merriam, then there is a 1 in 146 chance that you will experience a violent crime. These types of crimes may include homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault. Your risk of being a victim of property crime is 1 in 18. These types of crime include burglary, petty theft, and theft of motor vehicles. Altogether, there is a 1 in 16 risk that you will become a victim of crime in Merriam.

        Year Over Year Crime In Merriam (per 100,000 people)

        An ideal indicator of whether Merriam is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live can be done by analyzing the year over year crime rates per 100,000 people. Year over year violent crime in Merriam has increased by 1% and the rate of property crime in Merriam has decreased by 4%. The total crime rate in Merriam has decreased by 4% year to year.

        Merriam police department

        Item Merriam Kansas National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)335,262558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.92.53.3
        There are a total of 33 Merriam police officers. This results in 2.9 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 18.7% greater than the Kansas average and 9.7% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in Kansas

        State Total offenders Kansas /100K National /100K
        Kansas9,632349266
        There are a total of 9,632 sex offenders in Kansas. This yields a total of 349 sex offenders in Kansas per 100,000 residents which is 31% greater than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Weatherby Lake, MO2,51068328397
        Basehor, KS6,225119649769
        Gardner, KS21,936155776931
        Westwood Hills, KS473168805972
        Lake Quivira, KS1,081168805972
        Oakview, MO44501,1021,102
        Oakwood, MO1881979451,143
        Merriam, KS11,1916865,6556,342

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Garden City, SC11,1934462,0992,545
        Scottdale, GA11,1963871,7832,170
        East Glenville, NY11,1844081,6362,044
        Kalaoa, HI11,1982532,3742,627
        Springdale, OH11,2012911,7622,052
        Merriam, KS11,1916865,6556,342
        Source: The Merriam, KS crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.