Top 10 most dangerous cities in Kentucky

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Kentucky, a state known for its rolling bluegrass hills and rich cultural heritage, offers a variety of attractions. From the bustling city life of Louisville, home to the famous Kentucky Derby, to the scenic beauty of the Appalachian Mountains, Kentucky provides a unique blend of urban and rural experiences. The state's history is rich with contributions to music, bourbon, and horse racing. However, despite its many positives, Kentucky faces safety challenges in certain areas. The most dangerous cities in Kentucky are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where extra caution is necessary. The contrast between Kentucky's cultural richness and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Kentucky involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Kentucky. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Kentucky's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of cultural heritage, economic opportunities, and natural beauty continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

Louisville Population: 618,733 766 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.10 chance of being a victim: 1 in 131 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,385

Louisville, KY holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Kentucky with 766 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (562), robbery (148), rape (33) and homicide (23) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 241% higher than the Kentucky average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Oak Grove Population: 7,332 436 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.19 chance of being a victim: 1 in 229 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,887

The second most dangerous city is Oak Grove. With a population of 7,332 and a violent crime rate that is 94% higher than the Kentucky average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Oak Grove are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 436 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 229 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Shively Population: 15,723 402 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.10 chance of being a victim: 1 in 248 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,467

Home to 15,723 residents, Shively, KY ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Kentucky. Unfortunately for residents of Shively, crime is widespread, with more than 402 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.10 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 79% higher than the Kentucky violent crime rate.

Hopkinsville Population: 31,052 351 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.96 chance of being a victim: 1 in 285 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,480

With a violent crime rate that is 56% higher than the Kentucky average, it's not hard to see why Hopkinsville made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (81), assault (201), rape (58) and homicide (10). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Hopkinsville more vulnerable to high crime.

Paducah Population: 24,947 333 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.91 chance of being a victim: 1 in 300 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,218

The ongoing battle with crime in Paducah, KY, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 333 and a 1 in 300 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Paducah has a violent crime rate that is 49% higher than the Kentucky average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Paducah.

Williamsburg Population: 5,266 314 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.86 chance of being a victim: 1 in 318 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,179

Williamsburg, KY comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 314 per 100,000 people, which is 40% higher than the Kentucky average. Williamsburg has a population of 5,266, which translates to 0.86 crimes per day and 1 in 318 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Williamsburg which are much safer than others.

Owensboro Population: 59,796 312 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.85 chance of being a victim: 1 in 321 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,554

A 1 in 321 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.85 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Owensboro makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 312 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 39% higher than the Kentucky average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (184), robbery (38), rape (87) and homicide (3).

Covington Population: 40,466 295 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.81 chance of being a victim: 1 in 339 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,187

Covington, KY is another one of the most dangerous cities in Kentucky and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 40,466 and a violent crime rate of 295 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 144 counts of assault, 93 counts of robbery, 51 counts of rape and 7 counts of homicide. All told, the Covington violent crime rate is 32% higher than the Kentucky average.

Henderson Population: 28,469 291 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.80 chance of being a victim: 1 in 344 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,620

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Henderson, KY comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Kentucky with a violent crime rate of 291 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.80 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 344 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Mayfield Population: 9,823 284 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.78 chance of being a victim: 1 in 352 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,121

Rounding out our list at #10 is Mayfield, KY. With a population of 9,823 and a violent crime rate of 284 per 100,000 people (27% higher than the Kentucky average), some parts of Mayfield are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 203 counts of assault, 10 counts of robbery, 71 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 352 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Kentucky

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Louisville	618,733	766	4,385
2	Oak Grove	7,332	436	3,887
3	Shively	15,723	402	3,467
4	Hopkinsville	31,052	351	3,480
5	Paducah	24,947	333	3,218
6	Williamsburg	5,266	314	1,179
7	Owensboro	59,796	312	3,554
8	Covington	40,466	295	2,187
9	Henderson	28,469	291	2,620
10	Mayfield	9,823	284	2,121
11	Winchester	18,520	272	3,283
12	Paris	9,776	260	1,617
13	Newport	15,045	254	3,447
14	Lexington-Fayette	322,200	254	3,005
15	Harrodsburg	8,480	250	1,328
16	Monticello	5,999	243	1,666
17	Radcliff	22,796	236	2,247
18	Somerset	11,548	235	2,535
19	Frankfort	27,705	233	2,337
20	Bowling Green	71,628	232	3,162
21	Richmond	35,744	228	2,695
22	Maysville	8,752	207	2,766
23	Dayton	5,550	207	1,209
24	Middlesborough	9,242	200	3,392
25	Morehead	7,653	199	2,311
26	Shepherdsville	13,757	198	1,949
27	Ashland	20,449	193	3,063
28	Campbellsville	11,370	188	1,805
29	Glasgow	14,394	175	3,269
30	Danville	16,801	173	1,711
31	London	8,058	172	5,680
32	Elsmere	8,617	164	854
33	Lyndon	11,451	156	2,925
34	Middletown	7,885	156	3,948
35	St. Matthews	18,022	145	4,989
36	Franklin	8,909	144	2,458
37	Erlanger	19,106	141	555
38	Bellevue	5,786	141	1,287
39	Elizabethtown	30,179	137	1,055
40	Florence	32,721	137	4,544
41	Russellville	7,056	136	1,705
42	Villa Hills	7,475	133	1,107
43	Princeton	6,087	129	1,681
44	Nicholasville	30,549	124	1,804
45	Cynthiana	6,270	123	1,771
46	Georgetown	34,362	122	1,448
47	Madisonville	18,801	121	976
48	Shelbyville	16,244	119	1,278
49	Bardstown	13,169	116	2,388
50	Corbin	7,558	114	1,538

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Kentucky is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Kentucky cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.