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C

Is Bardstown, Kentucky Safe?

Population 14,161 · Safer than 35% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 14,161, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Bardstown earns a C with violent crime below the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,503 per 100K.

Bardstown Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricBardstownKentucky AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate278.6307.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1866.42033.91,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate173.0--268.2
Theft Rate1503.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate384.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyC

214.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

279/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1866/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Bardstown

Violent crime in Bardstown is below the national average. The rate of 278.6 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1866.4 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,503 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Bardstown Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault173
065% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery66
01.0x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary343
01.3x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,503
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft384
01.2x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Bardstown Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Bardstown
278.6
State
307.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Bardstown
1866.4
State
2033.9
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bardstown Safety

Is Bardstown safe?
Not especially. Bardstown earns a C with a crime rate of 214.5 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Bardstown?
214.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 278.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1866.4 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Bardstown safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Bardstown has a C grade, so it's not the safest destination, but tourist areas generally see less violent crime than the citywide average suggests.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Bardstown?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Bardstown generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Bardstown police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Bardstown?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Bardstown's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C grade overall.
How does Bardstown compare to other cities in Kentucky?
Below average for the state. Bardstown ranks behind about 64% of Kentucky cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Bardstown to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Bardstown?
Mixed. Violent crime is below the national average, and property crime is close to the national average. It's not great, but it's not the worst either, landing at the 35th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Bardstown?
278.6 per 100,000, which is 23% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (173), robbery (66), and murder (3.0) per 100,000.

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View all Kentucky city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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