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Safest Cities in Kentucky (2026 Rankings)

Updated October 2026 · Based on 2024 FBI UCR data

Berea is the safest city in Kentucky with a crime rate of 19.6 per 1,000 residents, earning a B- safety grade. Shelbyville (19.7/1K) and Versailles (19.9/1K) round out the top three. Rankings based on 41 cities with 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Avg Crime Rate
22.6per 1K
Below National Avg
19of 41 cities
Above National Avg
22of 41 cities

All 41 Cities Ranked by Safety

#CityGradeCrime/1K
1Berea
B-
19.6
2Shelbyville
B-
19.7
3Versailles
B-
19.9
4La Grange
B-
19.9
5Owensboro
B-
20
6Independence
B-
20.6
7Paris
B-
20.7
8Hopkinsville
B-
20.8
9Radcliff
B-
20.8
10Jeffersontown
B-
21
11Bardstown
B-
21.1
12Covington
B-
21.4
13Bowling Green
B-
21.5
14Paducah
B-
21.5
15Glasgow
B-
21.5
16Mount Washington
B-
21.6
17Shively
B-
21.6
18Franklin
B-
21.7
19Shepherdsville
B-
21.9
20Florence
B-
22
21Ashland
B-
22
22Winchester
B-
22.8
23Alexandria
B-
22.8
24Murray
B-
22.9
25Danville
B-
23
26Nicholasville
C+
23.3
27Henderson
C+
23.7
28Newport
C+
23.8
29Elizabethtown
C+
23.9
30Somerset
C+
23.9
31St. Matthews
C+
24.4
32Campbellsville
C+
24.7
33Georgetown
C+
24.8
34Lyndon
C+
24.9
35Lexington-Fayette urban county
C+
25
36Fort Thomas
C+
25.2
37Lawrenceburg
C+
25.2
38Frankfort
C+
25.4
39Madisonville
C+
25.4
40Richmond
C+
25.8
41Erlanger
C+
25.9

Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Most Dangerous Cities in Kentucky

The highest crime rates among tracked cities in Kentucky. These cities have the most crime per capita based on FBI data.

1
C+
Erlanger25.9/1K · Moderate · Violent: 398/100K
2
C+
Richmond25.8/1K · Moderate · Violent: 407/100K
3
C+
Madisonville25.4/1K · Moderate · Violent: 422/100K
4
C+
Frankfort25.4/1K · Moderate · Violent: 440/100K
5
C+
Lawrenceburg25.2/1K · Moderate · Violent: 401/100K

Frequently Asked Questions About Safety in Kentucky

What is the safest city in Kentucky?
As of 2026, Berea is the safest city in Kentucky with a crime rate of 19.6 per 1,000 residents and a B- safety grade. It ranks above 59% of all US cities.
What are the top 10 safest cities in Kentucky?
Based on 2026 FBI Uniform Crime Report data, the top 10 safest cities in Kentucky based on crime rate are: Berea, Shelbyville, Versailles, La Grange, Owensboro, Independence, Paris, Hopkinsville, Radcliff, Jeffersontown.
What is the most dangerous city in Kentucky?
Erlanger has the highest crime rate in Kentucky at 25.9 per 1,000 residents, earning a C+ safety grade.
What is the average crime rate in Kentucky?
The average crime rate across 41 tracked cities in Kentucky is 22.6 per 1,000 residents. The average violent crime rate is 372 per 100K and property crime averages 1890 per 100K.
Is Kentucky safe to live in?
Kentucky has a higher-than-average violent crime rate at 372 per 100K (national: 363.8). However, safety varies widely by city. Berea earns a B- while Erlanger gets a C+. 19 of 41 cities have crime rates at or below the national average.
How many cities are ranked in Kentucky?
41 cities in Kentucky are ranked using FBI Uniform Crime Report data. 19 have crime rates at or below the national average.
See 2027 rankings for Kentucky →View all Kentucky city safety gradesSafety index for all 50 states

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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