Kentucky Crime Statistics
46 years of data (1979–2024)
Key Insights
- →Kentucky ranks #45 out of 51 states for violent crime rate (213.1 per 100K).
- →Violent crime decreased 7% from 2023 to 2024.
- →235 cities report crime data. Safest: Independence (26.9/100K). Most dangerous: Louisville Metro (707.4/100K).
- →279 murders in 2024 — a rate of 6.1 per 100K residents.
- →Since 1979, Kentucky's violent crime rate has changed by -14%.
Violent Crime Rate
213.1
-7.0% YoY
Murder Rate
6.1
279 total
Property Crime Rate
1349.9
61,938 total
Population
4,588,372
2024
2024 Crime Breakdown
Violent Crime: 9,779
Murder279
Rape1,488
Robbery1,612
Aggravated Assault6,400
Property Crime: 61,938
Burglary8,881
Larceny-Theft42,680
Motor Vehicle Theft10,377
Violent Crime Rate Trend
Homicide Rate Trend
Violent Crime Breakdown (2024)
Most Dangerous Cities
| City | Violent Rate | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville Metro | 707.4 | 676,843 |
| Hopkinsville | 446.3 | 30,694 |
| Owensboro | 349.4 | 60,096 |
| Newport | 328.4 | 13,702 |
| Henderson | 318.8 | 27,600 |
| Shively | 305.3 | 15,394 |
| Covington | 287.9 | 40,984 |
| Paducah | 270.4 | 26,624 |
| Lexington | 262.0 | 323,254 |
| Somerset | 258.8 | 12,367 |
Safest Cities
| City | Violent Rate | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Independence | 26.9 | 29,747 |
| Mount Washington | 31.9 | 18,811 |
| Fort Thomas | 47.5 | 16,826 |
| Alexandria | 55.7 | 10,778 |
| Lawrenceburg | 57.2 | 12,241 |
| La Grange | 66.4 | 10,537 |
| Versailles | 68.5 | 27,727 |
| Erlanger | 70.6 | 19,827 |
| Berea | 86.8 | 16,135 |
| Madisonville | 88.1 | 19,294 |
Crime Velocity — Which Cities Are Changing Fastest
Fastest Improving
Fastest Worsening
Velocity scores measure the direction and speed of crime changes. Negative = improving, positive = worsening. Full methodology →
Hate Crimes in Kentucky
184 incidents reported
Top bias motivations: Sexual Orientation (5)
Explore full hate crime data →Arrest Demographics (National)
The FBI publishes state-level total arrest counts but does not break down arrest demographics by race at the state level in the same detail as national data. For national arrest demographic patterns, see our dedicated pages:
Related Analysis
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer. Rates per 100,000 residents. City data from Table 8.