CityCheck
CitiesSafetyAskPlan
D

Is Lexington-Fayette urban county, Kentucky Safe?

Population 329,751 · Safer than 16% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

With a violent crime rate below the national average, Lexington-Fayette urban county faces real safety challenges. It earns a D grade and ranks below 84% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,538 per 100K.

Lexington-Fayette urban county Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricLexington-Fayette urban countyKentucky AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate293.8307.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2386.82033.91,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate244.0--268.2
Theft Rate1538.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate424.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

268.1 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

294/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2387/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Lexington-Fayette urban county

Violent crime in Lexington-Fayette urban county is below the national average. The rate of 293.8 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2386.8 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,538 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Lexington-Fayette urban county Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault244
091% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery59
093% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary462
01.7x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,538
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft424
01.3x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Lexington-Fayette urban county Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Lexington-Fayette urban county
293.8
State
307.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Lexington-Fayette urban county
2386.8
State
2033.9
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Lexington-Fayette urban county Safety

Is Lexington-Fayette urban county safe?
Not especially. Lexington-Fayette urban county earns a D with a crime rate of 268.1 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Lexington-Fayette urban county?
268.1 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 293.8 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2386.8 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Lexington-Fayette urban county safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Lexington-Fayette urban county's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,538 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Lexington-Fayette urban county?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Lexington-Fayette urban county generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Lexington-Fayette urban county police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Lexington-Fayette urban county?
No. Crime in Lexington-Fayette urban county has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does Lexington-Fayette urban county compare to other cities in Kentucky?
Below average for the state. Lexington-Fayette urban county ranks behind about 75% of Kentucky cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Lexington-Fayette urban county 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 Lexington-Fayette urban county?
Bad. A D grade and 268.1 per-thousand rate put Lexington-Fayette urban county below 84% of US cities. Violent crime at 294 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Lexington-Fayette urban county?
293.8 per 100,000, which is 19% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (244), robbery (59), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Kentucky

Similar-sized communities in Kentucky. Compare crime rates across the state.

C
See crime rates in Bowling Green78,505 pop · Grade C
C
See crime rates in Owensboro60,892 pop · Grade C
C
See crime rates in Covington41,847 pop · Grade C
D
See crime rates in Georgetown40,883 pop · Grade D
D
See crime rates in Richmond40,663 pop · Grade D
D+
See crime rates in Elizabethtown35,448 pop · Grade D+
View all Kentucky city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in Lexington-Fayette urban county

Get weekly safety updates for Lexington-Fayette urban county

Weekly crime trend updates and safety grade changes delivered to your inbox.

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.

Know before you go

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

Explore cities