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.
- →232 cities report crime data. Safest: Prospect (0.0/100K). 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 |
| West Buechel | 295.9 | 1,352 |
| Grayson | 289.7 | 3,797 |
| Covington | 287.9 | 40,984 |
| Harlan | 275.6 | 1,814 |
Safest Cities
| City | Violent Rate | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Prospect | 0.0 | 4,553 |
| Paintsville | 0.0 | 4,111 |
| Indian Hills | 0.0 | 2,843 |
| Providence | 0.0 | 2,799 |
| Eminence | 0.0 | 2,755 |
| Calvert City | 0.0 | 2,517 |
| Eddyville | 0.0 | 2,483 |
| Anchorage | 0.0 | 2,466 |
| Junction City | 0.0 | 2,294 |
| Tompkinsville | 0.0 | 2,282 |
Related Analysis
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer. Rates per 100,000 residents. City data from Table 8.