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.

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Louisville Population: 618,733 707 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.94 chance of being a victim: 1 in 141 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,034

Louisville, KY holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Kentucky with 707 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (527), robbery (128), rape (31) and homicide (22) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 232% 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.

Hopkinsville Population: 31,052 446 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.22 chance of being a victim: 1 in 224 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,952

The second most dangerous city is Hopkinsville. With a population of 31,052 and a violent crime rate that is 109% higher than the Kentucky average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Hopkinsville are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 446 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 224 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Owensboro Population: 59,796 349 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.96 chance of being a victim: 1 in 286 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,266

Home to 59,796 residents, Owensboro, KY ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Kentucky. Unfortunately for residents of Owensboro, crime is widespread, with more than 349 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 0.96 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 64% higher than the Kentucky violent crime rate.

Newport Population: 15,045 328 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.90 chance of being a victim: 1 in 304 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,167

With a violent crime rate that is 54% higher than the Kentucky average, it's not hard to see why Newport made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (95), assault (153), rape (73) and homicide (7). 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 Newport more vulnerable to high crime.

Henderson Population: 28,469 319 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.87 chance of being a victim: 1 in 314 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,134

The ongoing battle with crime in Henderson, 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 319 and a 1 in 314 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Henderson has a violent crime rate that is 50% 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 Henderson.

Shively Population: 15,723 305 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.84 chance of being a victim: 1 in 328 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,586

Shively, KY comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 305 per 100,000 people, which is 43% higher than the Kentucky average. Shively has a population of 15,723, which translates to 0.84 crimes per day and 1 in 328 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 Shively which are much safer than others.

Covington Population: 40,466 288 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.79 chance of being a victim: 1 in 347 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,923

A 1 in 347 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.79 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Covington makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 288 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 35% higher than the Kentucky average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (142), robbery (76), rape (66) and homicide (5).

Oak Grove Population: 7,332 276 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.75 chance of being a victim: 1 in 363 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,768

Oak Grove, KY is another one of the most dangerous cities in Kentucky and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 7,332 and a violent crime rate of 276 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 125 counts of assault, 88 counts of robbery, 38 counts of rape and 25 counts of homicide. All told, the Oak Grove violent crime rate is 29% higher than the Kentucky average.

Paducah Population: 24,947 270 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.74 chance of being a victim: 1 in 370 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,065

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, Paducah, KY comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Kentucky with a violent crime rate of 270 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.74 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 370 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Lexington-Fayette Population: 322,200 262 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.72 chance of being a victim: 1 in 382 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,536

Rounding out our list at #10 is Lexington-Fayette, KY. With a population of 322,200 and a violent crime rate of 262 per 100,000 people (23% higher than the Kentucky average), some parts of Lexington-Fayette are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 126 counts of assault, 80 counts of robbery, 52 counts of rape and 5 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 382 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	707	4,034
2	Hopkinsville	31,052	446	2,952
3	Owensboro	59,796	349	3,266
4	Newport	15,045	328	4,167
5	Henderson	28,469	319	2,134
6	Shively	15,723	305	3,586
7	Covington	40,466	288	1,923
8	Oak Grove	7,332	276	2,768
9	Paducah	24,947	270	3,065
10	Lexington-Fayette	322,200	262	2,536
11	Somerset	11,548	259	1,334
12	Dayton	5,550	240	977
13	Florence	32,721	232	3,445
14	Campbellsville	11,370	230	1,305
15	Bowling Green	71,628	225	3,153
16	Maysville	8,752	220	2,551
17	Richmond	35,744	215	2,188
18	Mount Sterling	7,190	211	1,413
19	Frankfort	27,705	202	1,845
20	Ashland	20,449	200	2,703
21	Mayfield	9,823	197	2,088
22	Corbin	7,558	191	1,275
23	Middlesborough	9,242	191	2,955
24	Pikeville	6,642	191	1,634
25	Harrodsburg	8,480	173	982
26	Radcliff	22,796	172	2,171
27	Glasgow	14,394	169	2,277
28	Hillview	9,066	168	1,464
29	Winchester	18,520	166	2,961
30	Bardstown	13,169	165	1,559
31	Williamsburg	5,266	156	664
32	Lebanon	5,960	152	1,122
33	Cynthiana	6,270	152	1,394
34	London	8,058	145	2,749
35	Franklin	8,909	142	1,023
36	Elizabethtown	30,179	137	835
37	Shepherdsville	13,757	135	1,927
38	Shelbyville	16,244	134	1,141
39	Paris	9,776	129	935
40	St. Matthews	18,022	127	5,223
41	Middletown	7,885	125	3,531
42	Georgetown	34,362	122	1,291
43	Nicholasville	30,549	113	1,610
44	Danville	16,801	109	1,155
45	Morehead	7,653	106	1,468
46	Jeffersontown	27,933	105	2,381
47	Lyndon	11,451	101	2,629
48	Murray	19,254	99	1,528
49	Elsmere	8,617	98	930
50	Russellville	7,056	94	1,218

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.