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C

Is Paducah, Kentucky Safe?

Population 26,730 · Safer than 32% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Paducah is a smaller community of 26,730 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 222.2 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,299 per 100K.

Paducah Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricPaducahKentucky AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate299.8307.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1921.82033.91,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate197.0--268.2
Theft Rate1299.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate487.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

222.2 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

300/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

1922/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Paducah

Violent crime in Paducah is below the national average. The rate of 299.8 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1921.8 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,299 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Paducah Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault197
073% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery58
092% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary258
096% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,299
093% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft487
01.5x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Paducah Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Paducah
299.8
State
307.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Paducah
1921.8
State
2033.9
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Paducah Safety

Is Paducah safe?
Not especially. Paducah earns a C with a crime rate of 222.2 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Paducah?
222.2 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 299.8 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1921.8 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Paducah safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Paducah's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,299 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Paducah?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Paducah generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Paducah police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Paducah?
Crime rates have held steady in Paducah, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C grade.
How does Paducah compare to other cities in Kentucky?
Below average for the state. Paducah ranks behind about 73% of Kentucky cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Paducah to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Paducah?
Bad. A C grade and 222.2 per-thousand rate put Paducah below 68% of US cities. Violent crime at 300 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Paducah?
299.8 per 100,000, which is 18% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (197), robbery (58), and murder (5.0) 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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