D
76%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
23%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
95%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleBowling Green/100k peopleKentucky/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime3,053n/a (estimate)4,1021,6632,324
Murder4n/a5.46.86.3
Rape65n/a87.333.840.0
Robbery56n/a75.238.166.1
Assault87n/a116.9135.4268.2
Violent crime212n/a (estimate)285214370
Burglary356n/a478.3244.8269.8
Theft2,196n/a2,950.5989.81,401.9
Vehicle theft289n/a388.3214.2282.7
Property crime2,841n/a (estimate)3,8171,4491,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Bowling Green, KY

Crime can be categorized into two primary types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, whereas property crimes involve acts like burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. The overall crime rate in Bowling Green is 76.5% higher than the national average. Specifically, there were 212 violent crimes reported in Bowling Green, equivalent to 285 per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national average by 23%. Additionally, Bowling Green recorded 2841 property crimes, amounting to 3817 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average by 95.3%.

Having a crime rate of 4102 per 100,000 residents, Bowling Green experiences a crime rate that is 76.49% higher when compared to the national average, leading to one of the highest overall crime rates in the nation. It's important to clarify that this doesn't imply the entire city is unsafe. Like any area, Bowling Green contains neighborhoods with varying safety levels and you can find areas that are notably safer than others, emphasizing the need for targeted crime prevention efforts and community engagement initiatives.

Every year, one in 27 people fall victim to a property crime in Bowling Green - which is high compared to the national average. With a property crime rate of 3817 per 100,000 people, Bowling Green has one of the highest property crime rates in the country. In fact, the city ranks among the worst 10% of all cities that reported crime last year.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Bowling Green?

What is the prevailing sentiment among Bowling Green residents regarding the state of crime? A comprehensive survey conducted by AreaVibes, involving 56 respondents, sheds light on this matter. The results were as follows: 34% of Bowling Green residents expressed a notable sense of security, asserting that crime was virtually non-existent in their community, and they felt at ease strolling the streets after dark. While, 66% of those surveyed held a contrasting viewpoint, perceiving a higher incidence of crime, leading them to feel apprehensive about walking alone at night.

Is Bowling Green a Safe Place to Live?

To get a feel for the safety of living in Bowling Green, it's essential to analyze both the overall crime rate and the daily incident count. Bowling Green presents a total crime rate that is 76% higher than the national average per 100,000 residents. Consequently, Bowling Green experiences an average of 8.36 daily crimes, comprising 0.58 violent incidents and 7.78 property-related offenses. This evaluation offers a comprehensive understanding of the safety landscape, aiding individuals in making informed decisions when considering relocation.

Has Crime in Bowling Green Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows residents and potential residents to assess the crime in Bowling Green. A decrease in crime rates may indicate improving safety, while an increase could raise concerns. The year-over-year crime rate in Bowling Green has increased by 3.8%. Violent crimes have decreased by 10.6%, while property crimes have increased by 5.1%. By comparing crime rates from one year to the next, authorities and communities can identify trends and patterns in criminal activity. This helps in understanding whether crime is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable over time.

Potential Causes for Crime in Bowling Green

Bowling Green has a poverty rate that stands at 25.9, in contrast to the national average of 15.1. Historically, a direct correlation has been observed between poverty rates and crime stats. Higher poverty rates have led to higher crime rates, while lower poverty rates have led to a reduction in Bowling Green crime rates. Income disparities and heightened poverty levels can serve as catalysts for elevated or reduced criminal activity, as individuals may or may not turn to illicit means to fulfill their basic needs. This could be one of many factors that may influence crime.

In areas where employment options are limited or where a significant proportion of jobs offer meager wages, the likelihood of heightened unemployment and homelessness increases. Regions facing challenges related to unemployment or inadequate income may become more vulnerable to a surge in crime stemming from economic instability. While low unemployment rates tend to lead to reduced crime in most areas. Bowling Green currently has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, contrasting with the national average of 4.7%. This could be one of many factors that could contribute to a higher or lower crime rate.

Bowling Green has a population density of 1773.3 people per square mile, while with the national average is 90.6 people per square mile. Cities characterized by high population density are frequently larger urban centers offering diverse economic prospects. Within these areas, income inequality may be accentuated, resulting in the coexistence of poverty and affluence. Such economic disparities can contribute to elevated property crimes and on occasion, violent crimes. Conversely, areas with low population density generally record lower Bowling Green crime rates.

Bowling Green crime map



The Bowling Green crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Bowling Green as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Bowling Green crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Bowling Green crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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Compare Bowling Green, KY Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Bowling Green crime rates are 76% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Bowling Green are 23% lower than the national average
      • In Bowling Green you have a 1 in 25 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Bowling Green is safer than 22% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Bowling Green has not changed

      Bowling Green, KY Crime Quiz

         

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        Daily Crime In Bowling Green (per 100,000 people)

        The number of daily crimes per 100,000 residents in Bowling Green, Kentucky is displayed in the graph above. As you can see, the daily crimes for Bowling Green are 2.47 times more than the Kentucky average and 1.76 times more than the national level. Daily violent crimes in Bowling Green are 1.33 times more than than Kentucky and 1.30 times less than the national mean. While daily property crimes in Bowling Green are 2.63 times more than than Kentucky and 1.95 times more than the national average.

        How Safe is Bowling Green (higher is better)

        How safe is Bowling Green, Kentucky compared to other cities in Kentucky and the rest of the cities across the United States? The graphs above show that Bowling Green is safer than 2% of the cities in Kentucky and 22% of the cities in the United States. These results are calculated by analyzing all cities in Kentucky and across the US as a whole and determining how many areas have a lower crime rate than Bowling Green. Overall, Bowling Green is ranked below average compared to all other cities across the United States.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Bowling Green

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Bowling Green is 1 in 352
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Bowling Green is 1 in 27
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Bowling Green is 1 in 25
        Are you at risk of becoming a victim of crime in Bowling Green, Kentucky? If you reside in Bowling Green, then there is a 1 in 352 chance that you will experience a violent crime. These types of crimes may include homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault. Your risk of being a victim of property crime is 1 in 27. These types of crime include burglary, petty theft, and theft of motor vehicles. Altogether, there is a 1 in 25 risk that you will become a victim of crime in Bowling Green.

        Year Over Year Crime In Bowling Green (per 100,000 people)

        A good indicator of whether Bowling Green is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live can be determined by analyzing the year over year crime rate (per 100,000 people). The number of violent crimes in Bowling Green has decreased by 14%, while the property crime rate in Bowling Green has increased by 1% year over year. The number of total crimes in Bowling Green has not changed year over year.

        Bowling Green police department

        Item Bowling Green Kentucky National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)1515,359558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.62.83.3
        There are a total of 151 Bowling Green police officers. This results in 2.6 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 8.3% less than the Kentucky average and 21.3% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in Kentucky

        State Total offenders Kentucky /100K National /100K
        Kentucky9,099222266
        There are a total of 9,099 sex offenders in Kentucky. This yields a total of 222 sex offenders in Kentucky per 100,000 residents which is 17% less than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Woodburn, KY373000
        Auburn, KY1,46306262
        Plano, KY1,24454365419
        Oakland, KY2542121,4351,647
        Plum Springs, KY4482571,7371,994
        Bowling Green, KY71,6282853,8174,102

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Gulfport, MS71,6602691,9192,188
        Redlands, CA71,6802803,0793,359
        Maple Grove, MN71,5691171,9332,050
        Pittsburg, CA71,7235962,1872,783
        Pawtucket, RI71,8212872,2532,540
        Bowling Green, KY71,6282853,8174,102
        Source: The Bowling Green, KY crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.