If you’re from Kentucky, then you know that you have to watch out for more than just crazy Wildcat fans in Lexington and moonshiners in Louisville.
Some pockets of the Bluegrass State are more dangerous than others.
With that in mind, we used Saturday Night Science to identify the most dangerous cities in Kentucky. We compared the FBI’s latest crime report for violent and property crime statistics per capita for 76 cities in Kentucky with over 5,000 residents. We discovered that Louisville is the most violent place in Kentucky.
Louisville can’t catch a break as the city also made it on the list of the most dangerous cities in the country.
Not sold on Kentucky? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
707 violent crimes /100k · 3,326 property crimes /100k · #1 most violent in Kentucky
Located in
Kentucky
Louisville is not only the most populous in Kentucky, it is also number 1 in the state for violent crime. Whether you call this city home or are just stopping by, it is a good idea to have one of the area’s legendary Louisville Slugger baseball bats handy.
That accomplishment is probably not one you will see touted alongside Louisville’s other claims to fame, like hosting the Kentucky Derby, being the birthplace of Muhammad Ali, and more. But with 3,565 aggravated assaults, 868 robberies, 208 rapes, and 147 murders, it makes sense that the rank distinction goes to this city.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
328 violent crimes /100k · 3,839 property crimes /100k · #4 most violent in Kentucky
Located in
Campbell County, Kentucky
Newport sits just across the Ohio river from Cincinnati. A 10-minute drive will take you into the center of pride of southern Ohio. Thus, while it technically sits in a different state, Newport acts as a kind of suburb to a major urban area.
With this context, the high crime rate in Newport doesn’t come as a surprise. This includes a major problem with violent crime. In a community of just 13,702 people, Newport suffered 10 sexual assaults. The town also has the number 27 highest pace of arsons.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
305 violent crimes /100k · 3,280 property crimes /100k · #6 most violent in Kentucky
Located in
Jefferson County, Kentucky
It is a good thing that a stop along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is in Shively. Residents here might want a cocktail or two with booze from the Stitzel-Weller Distillery to help them forget that their city is sixth highest in the state for murder.
The 18 aggravated assaults, 20 robberies, and 7 rapes reported in 2024 probably do not make anyone here feel much better about their personal safety either. Let’s just hope no one drowns their sorrows too much. You need to stay alert if you are going to thrive in this town.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
349 violent crimes /100k · 2,917 property crimes /100k · #3 most violent in Kentucky
Located in
Daviess County, Kentucky
Do love banjo music? Want to kick up your boot heels to a rollicking fiddle solo? Well, then, you should consider planning a trip to Owensboro, home of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. If you need extra incentive, the town along the Ohio River in the western part of Kentucky also bills itself as the “Barbecue Capital of the World,” with an annual food festival to prove it.
However, stay vigilant while you’re tapping your toes and munching your ribs. Owensboro has its dark side as well. It ranks as the number 4 most dangerous community in Kentucky. This stems from a high rate of property crime, including 193 car thefts and 1,357 larcenies.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
446 violent crimes /100k · 2,505 property crimes /100k · #2 most violent in Kentucky
Located in
Christian County, Kentucky
Hopkinsville, located in Christian County, Kentucky, has earned the unfortunate distinction of being the fifth most dangerous place to live in the state for 2026. With a population of 30,694, this city has experienced concerning crime rates that contribute to its reputation for safety concerns. In particular, Hopkinsville has recorded 137 violent crimes, including 2 murders, 20 rapes, 23 robberies, and 92 aggravated assaults.
These crime statistics indicate a troubling environment for residents. However, it is important to note that while Hopkinsville faces significant challenges in crime rates, there is hope for improvement with dedicated efforts from law enforcement agencies and the community.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
270 violent crimes /100k · 2,794 property crimes /100k · #9 most violent in Kentucky
Located in
McCracken County, Kentucky
When William Clark, of Lewis and Clark, founded Paducah in 1827, it is safe to assume he had grand plans for it. The area being named one of the most dangerous cities in Kentucky, was not likely one of them.
The people of Paducah can thank their community’s modern-day criminals for that. In fact, contempt for the law is so bad here compared to the rest of the state that the city ranks ninth highest for total crime. A status the 744 property crimes that took place in 2024 certainly had a role in achieving.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
232 violent crimes /100k · 3,213 property crimes /100k · #13 most violent in Kentucky
Located in
Boone County, Kentucky
Florence, the 7 most dangerous place to live in Kentucky for 2026, faces significant safety issues. With a population of 33,208, this city in Boone County has experienced many crimes. The violent crime rate stands at 232/100k, including 6 murders, 16 rapes, 17 robberies, and 38 aggravated assaults. Property crime is also a significant concern, with 3,213/100k incidents reported.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
225 violent crimes /100k · 2,929 property crimes /100k · #15 most violent in Kentucky
Located in
Warren County, Kentucky
The numbers do not lie when it comes to the dangers of Bowling Green — it’s the eighth most dangerous city in Kentucky for 2026. You need to be careful in this southern Kentucky city or you could wind up like one of the victims of the 174 violent crimes that occurred in 2024. Physical safety is not all you have to worry about. Of those incidents, 36 were robberies. So, your valuables are at risk here too.
And while the city is known for producing Corvettes, criminals here are happy to get their hands on any set of wheels — including yours. The people who reported the 206 car thefts in Bowling Green in 2024, learned that lesson the hard way.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
276 violent crimes /100k · 2,492 property crimes /100k · #8 most violent in Kentucky
Located in
Christian County, Kentucky
You would think life in a city of 7,985 would be relatively safe and easy going. Not in Oak Grove. The crime numbers here may be smaller than those of other areas in the state but that does not make them insignificant. Members of the Oak Grove Police Department still have their work cut out for them.
Holding criminals accountable for making off with items that belong to others seems to be where most of their attention went in 2024. People in Oak Grove reported 155 larcenies, 27 burglaries, and 17 stolen cars that year.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
262 violent crimes /100k · 2,274 property crimes /100k · #10 most violent in Kentucky
Located in
Kentucky
Lexington, consolidated with Fayette County and often denoted as Lexington-Fayette, is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 60th-largest city in the United States. By land area, Lexington is the 28th largest city in the United States. Known as the “Horse Capital of the World,” it is the heart of the state’s Bluegrass region. With a mayor-alderman form of government, it is one of two cities in Kentucky designated by the state as first-class; the other is the state’s largest city of Louisville. In the 2016 U.S. Census Estimate, the city’s population was 318,449, anchoring a metropolitan area of 506,751 people and a combined statistical area of 723,849 people. Due to constant increases in population, Lexington suffers some of the worst traffic congestion in Kentucky, because two interstates bypass the city to the north and east, resulting in a lack of freeways going through the most populated areas of the city.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Kentucky’s statewide median.
On the map
Where crime hits hardest in Kentucky
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the most dangerous cities in Kentucky for 2026?
Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in Kentucky. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in Kentucky, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.
For our analysis, we focused on the 2024 data, specifically the 2024 Crime In The United States Report for Kentucky.
So what criteria did we use? Have a look:
- Violent Crimes Per Capita
- Property Crimes Per Capita
In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Kentucky cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 76 cities in Kentucky.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 76 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.
Next, we averaged the two rankings into one “Dangerous Index”.
Finally, we ranked every city on the “Dangerous Index” with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Kentucky — Louisville. Any ties went to the smaller city.
This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our eleventh time ranking the most dangerous places to live in Kentucky and is updated for 2026.
The full plate
Crime By City In Kentucky
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Dangerous Index | Population | Total Crimes Per 100K | Violent Crimes Per 100K | Property Crimes Per 100K | Murders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville | 2.50 | 676,843 | 4,034 | 707 | 3,326 | 147 |
| 2 | Newport | 3.00 | 13,702 | 4,167 | 328 | 3,839 | 1 |
| 3 | Shively | 5.50 | 15,394 | 3,586 | 305 | 3,280 | 2 |
| 4 | Owensboro | 5.50 | 60,096 | 3,266 | 349 | 2,917 | 1 |
| 5 | Hopkinsville | 8.00 | 30,694 | 2,952 | 446 | 2,505 | 2 |
| 6 | Paducah | 9.50 | 26,624 | 3,065 | 270 | 2,794 | 1 |
| 7 | Florence | 9.50 | 33,208 | 3,445 | 232 | 3,213 | 6 |
| 8 | Bowling Green | 11.00 | 77,503 | 3,153 | 225 | 2,929 | 1 |
| 9 | Oak Grove | 12.00 | 7,985 | 2,768 | 276 | 2,492 | 2 |
| 10 | Lexington | 14.50 | 323,254 | 2,536 | 262 | 2,274 | 16 |
| 11 | Henderson | 15.00 | 27,600 | 2,134 | 319 | 1,815 | 1 |
| 12 | Maysville | 16.50 | 8,625 | 2,551 | 220 | 2,330 | 0 |
| 13 | Middlesboro | 17.00 | 8,901 | 2,955 | 191 | 2,764 | 1 |
| 14 | Ashland | 17.50 | 21,011 | 2,703 | 200 | 2,503 | 0 |
| 15 | Covington | 18.00 | 40,984 | 1,923 | 288 | 1,635 | 2 |
| 16 | Winchester | 19.00 | 19,283 | 2,961 | 166 | 2,795 | 0 |
| 17 | Richmond | 19.50 | 38,072 | 2,188 | 215 | 1,973 | 2 |
| 18 | St. Matthews | 20.50 | 17,289 | 5,223 | 127 | 5,096 | 0 |
| 19 | Middletown | 22.00 | 9,602 | 3,531 | 125 | 3,406 | 0 |
| 20 | Mayfield | 22.50 | 9,626 | 2,088 | 197 | 1,891 | 0 |
| 21 | London | 23.00 | 7,602 | 2,749 | 145 | 2,605 | 1 |
| 22 | Glasgow | 23.50 | 15,413 | 2,277 | 169 | 2,109 | 0 |
| 23 | Radcliff | 23.50 | 22,658 | 2,171 | 172 | 1,999 | 1 |
| 24 | Frankfort | 23.50 | 28,177 | 1,845 | 202 | 1,643 | 1 |
| 25 | Somerset | 26.50 | 12,367 | 1,334 | 259 | 1,075 | 0 |
| 26 | Pikeville | 27.50 | 7,343 | 1,634 | 191 | 1,444 | 0 |
| 27 | Mount Sterling | 28.00 | 7,575 | 1,413 | 211 | 1,201 | 0 |
| 28 | Campbellsville | 28.50 | 11,724 | 1,305 | 230 | 1,075 | 2 |
| 29 | Lyndon | 30.00 | 10,877 | 2,629 | 101 | 2,528 | 0 |
| 30 | Corbin | 31.50 | 7,843 | 1,275 | 191 | 1,084 | 0 |
| 31 | Bardstown | 31.50 | 13,917 | 1,559 | 165 | 1,394 | 0 |
| 32 | Shepherdsville | 31.50 | 14,843 | 1,927 | 135 | 1,792 | 0 |
| 33 | Hillview | 32.00 | 8,950 | 1,464 | 168 | 1,296 | 1 |
| 34 | Jeffersontown | 32.00 | 28,563 | 2,381 | 105 | 2,276 | 3 |
| 35 | Cynthiana | 35.00 | 6,600 | 1,394 | 152 | 1,242 | 0 |
| 36 | Dayton | 36.50 | 5,833 | 977 | 240 | 737 | 0 |
| 37 | Nicholasville | 36.50 | 32,866 | 1,610 | 113 | 1,497 | 1 |
| 38 | Morehead | 39.50 | 6,608 | 1,468 | 106 | 1,362 | 0 |
| 39 | Murray | 40.00 | 18,191 | 1,528 | 99 | 1,429 | 0 |
| 40 | Lebanon | 40.50 | 6,595 | 1,122 | 152 | 970 | 0 |
| 41 | Harrodsburg | 40.50 | 9,270 | 982 | 173 | 809 | 0 |
| 42 | Georgetown | 40.50 | 40,037 | 1,291 | 122 | 1,169 | 3 |
| 43 | Shelbyville | 42.00 | 17,959 | 1,141 | 134 | 1,008 | 0 |
| 44 | Leitchfield | 43.00 | 6,480 | 1,389 | 93 | 1,296 | 0 |
| 45 | Cold Spring | 43.50 | 6,478 | 1,976 | 62 | 1,914 | 0 |
| 46 | Franklin | 43.50 | 10,556 | 1,023 | 142 | 881 | 0 |
| 47 | Danville | 44.00 | 17,406 | 1,155 | 109 | 1,046 | 1 |
| 48 | Russellville | 45.00 | 7,470 | 1,218 | 94 | 1,124 | 0 |
| 49 | Paris | 48.00 | 10,057 | 935 | 129 | 805 | 0 |
| 50 | Williamsburg | 49.50 | 5,118 | 664 | 156 | 508 | 0 |
| 51 | Bellevue | 49.50 | 5,713 | 1,103 | 88 | 1,015 | 0 |
| 52 | Elizabethtown | 49.50 | 33,522 | 835 | 137 | 698 | 4 |
| 53 | Central City | 51.50 | 5,808 | 1,067 | 86 | 981 | 0 |
| 54 | Princeton | 51.50 | 6,173 | 1,733 | 16 | 1,717 | 0 |
| 55 | Elsmere | 51.50 | 9,140 | 930 | 98 | 832 | 0 |
| 56 | Highland Heights | 53.50 | 6,604 | 1,045 | 76 | 969 | 0 |
| 57 | Berea | 54.00 | 16,135 | 936 | 87 | 849 | 0 |
| 58 | Lakeside Park-Crestview Hills | 54.50 | 6,028 | 1,045 | 66 | 979 | 0 |
| 59 | Monticello | 55.50 | 5,706 | 876 | 88 | 789 | 0 |
| 60 | La Grange | 55.50 | 10,537 | 978 | 66 | 911 | 0 |
| 61 | Madisonville | 58.00 | 19,294 | 679 | 88 | 591 | 1 |
| 62 | Villa Hills | 58.50 | 7,616 | 893 | 66 | 827 | 0 |
| 63 | Versailles | 59.00 | 27,727 | 826 | 69 | 757 | 0 |
| 64 | Erlanger | 62.50 | 19,827 | 595 | 71 | 525 | 1 |
| 65 | Fort Mitchell | 63.00 | 8,617 | 812 | 58 | 754 | 0 |
| 66 | Alexandria | 65.00 | 10,778 | 779 | 56 | 724 | 0 |
| 67 | Fort Wright | 66.00 | 6,132 | 571 | 65 | 506 | 0 |
| 68 | Lawrenceburg | 66.50 | 12,241 | 596 | 57 | 539 | 0 |
| 69 | Edgewood | 68.50 | 8,382 | 477 | 60 | 418 | 0 |
| 70 | Mount Washington | 68.50 | 18,811 | 590 | 32 | 558 | 0 |
| 71 | Fort Thomas | 70.00 | 16,826 | 535 | 48 | 487 | 0 |
| 72 | Taylor Mill | 72.00 | 6,957 | 374 | 43 | 331 | 0 |
| 73 | Flatwoods | 72.50 | 7,200 | 264 | 56 | 208 | 0 |
| 74 | Wilmore | 73.00 | 6,137 | 473 | 16 | 456 | 0 |
| 75 | Vine Grove | 73.50 | 7,011 | 357 | 29 | 328 | 0 |
| 76 | Independence | 74.50 | 29,747 | 343 | 27 | 316 | 0 |
Source: FBI UCR 2024. 76 cities with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: Locking It All Up In Kentucky
So what is the most dangerous city in Kentucky? After analyzing 76 cities in Kentucky, Louisville takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Kentucky based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2024.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Louisville ranks as the most dangerous city in Kentucky for 2026.
The most dangerous cities in Kentucky are Louisville, Newport, Shively, Owensboro, Hopkinsville, Paducah, Florence, Bowling Green, Oak Grove, and Lexington.
We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Louisville and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up.
Questions and answers
Most Dangerous Places To Live In Kentucky FAQs
Is Kentucky a dangerous state?
No, Kentucky is not a dangerous state as it ranks as the #11 safest state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in Kentucky ranks 40th most dangerous in the United States — 29.94% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Bluegrass State ranks 3most dangerous in the United States — 8.95% better than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.
Is Lexington, KY a dangerous city?
No, Lexington is not a dangerous city. Lexington ranks as the #160 safest out of 328 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Lexington might be considered safe you still need to be aware of where you are.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Lexington ranks 249th highest in America — 51.15% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 146th highest in the United States — 0.48% better than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 and that no city in America is ‘dangerous’. Despite the uptick in murders, it’s nothing like you’d see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
