Crime Rates and Safety in Kentucky

Kentucky's crime rates run slightly above national averages for violent crime, with Louisville accounting for a large share. Many eastern Kentucky communities report lower rates despite economic challenges.

41 cities tracked. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Avg Violent Crime Rate

308per 100K (below national avg of 363.8)

Avg Property Crime Rate

2034per 100K (above national avg of 1,832.3)

All 41 Cities in Kentucky

City	Grade	Population	Percentile
Lexington-Fayette urban county	D	329,751	16%
Bowling Green	C	78,505	31%
Owensboro	C	60,892	38%
Covington	C	41,847	31%
Georgetown	D	40,883	19%
Richmond	D	40,663	15%
Elizabethtown	D+	35,448	22%
Florence	C	34,018	30%
Nicholasville	D+	33,857	24%
Hopkinsville	C	30,411	36%
Independence	C	30,198	37%
Jeffersontown	C	29,193	35%
Frankfort	D	28,657	16%
Henderson	D+	27,822	23%
Paducah	C	26,730	32%
Radcliff	C	22,576	36%
Ashland	C-	20,996	29%
Erlanger	D	20,158	15%
Winchester	C-	19,514	27%
Madisonville	D	19,428	17%
Mount Washington	C	18,989	31%
Murray	C-	18,964	27%
Shelbyville	C+	18,453	41%
St. Matthews	D+	17,868	20%
Danville	C-	17,736	26%
Fort Thomas	D	17,142	17%
Berea	C+	16,662	42%
Shively	C	15,895	32%
Glasgow	C	15,302	34%
Shepherdsville	C	14,931	31%
Bardstown	C	14,161	35%
Newport	D+	13,998	24%
Somerset	D+	12,695	23%
Lawrenceburg	D	12,329	18%
Campbellsville	D+	11,783	20%
Lyndon	D	11,301	19%
Alexandria	C-	10,994	27%
Franklin	C	10,759	32%
Versailles	C	10,734	40%
La Grange	C+	10,669	40%
Paris	C	10,130	36%

Neighboring States

Indiana Ohio West Virginia Virginia Tennessee Missouri Illinois

Frequently Asked Questions About Kentucky Safety

What is the safest city in Kentucky?

Berea, with a C+ grade and a crime rate of 197.1 per 1,000 residents. It ranks above 42% of all US cities.

How does Kentucky compare to the national average for crime?

Kentucky runs below the national average for violent crime, at 308 per 100K vs. the national 363.8. Property crime averages 2034 per 100K (national: 1,832.3).

Which city in Kentucky has the most crime?

Erlanger has the highest crime rate among tracked Kentucky cities, with a D grade and 272.2 crimes per 1,000 residents.

How many cities are tracked in Kentucky?

41 cities with available FBI UCR crime data.

Know before you go

CityCheck covers safety grades, crime data, and things to do for every US city.

Explore cities