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C

Is Bowling Green, Kentucky Safe?

Population 78,505 · Safer than 31% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

A C grade for Bowling Green means there's room for concern. The 223.7 per-thousand crime rate and violent crime below the national average tell the story. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,539 per 100K.

Bowling Green Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricBowling GreenKentucky AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate260.4307.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1976.92033.91,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate164.0--268.2
Theft Rate1539.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate400.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

223.7 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

260/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

1977/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Bowling Green

Violent crime in Bowling Green is below the national average. The rate of 260.4 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1976.9 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,539 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Bowling Green Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault164
061% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery49
077% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary228
085% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,539
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft400
01.3x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Bowling Green Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Bowling Green
260.4
State
307.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Bowling Green
1976.9
State
2033.9
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Bowling Green Safety

Is Bowling Green safe?
Not especially. Bowling Green earns a C with a crime rate of 223.7 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Bowling Green?
223.7 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 260.4 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1976.9 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Bowling Green safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Bowling Green's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,539 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Bowling Green?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Bowling Green generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Bowling Green police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Bowling Green?
No. Crime in Bowling Green has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Bowling Green compare to other cities in Kentucky?
Below average for the state. Bowling Green ranks behind about 75% of Kentucky cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Bowling Green to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Bowling Green?
Bad. A C grade and 223.7 per-thousand rate put Bowling Green below 69% of US cities. Violent crime at 260 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Bowling Green?
260.4 per 100,000, which is 28% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (164), robbery (49), 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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