CityCheck
CitiesSafetyAskPlan
C

Is Owensboro, Kentucky Safe?

Population 60,892 · Safer than 38% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Owensboro earns a C safety grade with 207.5 crimes per 1,000 residents. Violent crime runs close to the national average, putting the city behind 62% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,523 per 100K.

Owensboro Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricOwensboroKentucky AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate327.8307.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1747.22033.91,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate237.0--268.2
Theft Rate1523.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate163.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

207.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

328/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1747/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Owensboro

Violent crime in Owensboro is close to the national average. The rate of 327.8 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1747.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,523 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Owensboro Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault237
088% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery42
066% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary200
074% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,523
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft163
051% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Owensboro Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Owensboro
327.8
State
307.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Owensboro
1747.2
State
2033.9
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Owensboro Safety

Is Owensboro safe?
Not especially. Owensboro earns a C with a crime rate of 207.5 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Owensboro?
207.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 327.8 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1747.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Owensboro safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Owensboro 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 Owensboro?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Owensboro generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Owensboro police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Owensboro?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Owensboro's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C grade overall.
How does Owensboro compare to other cities in Kentucky?
Below average for the state. Owensboro ranks behind about 69% of Kentucky cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Owensboro to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Owensboro?
Mixed. Violent crime is close to 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 38th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Owensboro?
327.8 per 100,000, which is 10% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (237), robbery (42), and murder (4.0) 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 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+
C
See crime rates in Florence34,018 pop · Grade C
View all Kentucky city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in Owensboro

Get weekly safety updates for Owensboro

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