crimebycounty

Kentucky Crime & Safety

Crime rates and safety scores for all 120 counties.

Avg Violent Crime Rate

78.0

per 100K

Avg Property Crime Rate

708.0

per 100K

Avg Safety Score

68/100

State Overview

Crime & Safety in Kentucky

National Context

Kentucky Ranks Among the Nation's Safest States

Kentucky maintains an average total crime rate of 786.2 per 100,000 residents, which is significantly lower than the national average of 2,385.5. This data places the Commonwealth well below the national baseline, reflecting a high level of public safety relative to other states.

Violent vs. Property Crime

Property Offenses Outpace Violent Crime Rates

Property crimes dominate the state's statistics at 708.1 per 100,000 residents, while violent crimes remain notably low at 78.1. For context, Kentucky residents experience violent crime at less than a quarter of the national average rate of 369.8.

Safest Counties

Rural Kentucky Counties Report Minimal Crime

Owsley and Robertson counties lead the state in safety, reporting total crime rates of just 24.7 and 45.3 per 100,000 residents respectively. Letcher County also stands out with a rate of 93.1, showcasing a trend of exceptional security in the state's rural communities.

Crime Hotspots

Urban Centers Show Higher Concentration of Incidents

Jefferson County leads the state with 3,621.5 crimes per 100,000 residents, followed by Fayette and Warren counties. These figures reflect the common concentration of activity in major metropolitan hubs like Louisville and Lexington rather than a statewide safety issue.

The Takeaway

A Secure Outlook for Prospective Residents

With a total crime rate nearly 67% lower than the national average, Kentucky offers an exceptionally safe environment for residents and movers. While urban areas experience more property-related incidents, the majority of the state maintains safety levels far superior to national benchmarks.

All Kentucky Counties

CountySafety Score
Owsley County94/100
Robertson County94/100
Letcher County93/100
Magoffin County93/100
Casey County92/100
McCreary County92/100
Martin County92/100
Leslie County92/100
Clinton County91/100
Trimble County91/100
Lewis County91/100
Knott County90/100
Monroe County90/100
Cumberland County90/100
Adair County89/100
Johnson County89/100
Floyd County88/100
Hancock County88/100
Rockcastle County88/100
Elliott County87/100
Wolfe County87/100
Hickman County87/100
Harlan County87/100
Menifee County87/100
Bracken County87/100
Edmonson County86/100
Perry County86/100
Carlisle County86/100
McLean County86/100
Greenup County85/100
Breathitt County85/100
Hart County85/100
Lee County85/100
Washington County85/100
Lincoln County85/100
Powell County84/100
Spencer County84/100
Whitley County84/100
Butler County84/100
Morgan County84/100
Nicholas County84/100
Anderson County84/100
Pike County83/100
Estill County83/100
Green County82/100
Russell County82/100
Breckinridge County82/100
Gallatin County82/100
Owen County81/100
Fleming County81/100
Jackson County80/100
Larue County80/100
Lyon County80/100
Webster County80/100
Metcalfe County79/100
Bath County78/100
Meade County78/100
Henry County77/100
Carter County77/100
Pendleton County76/100
Harrison County76/100
Lawrence County76/100
Crittenden County75/100
Clay County75/100
Mercer County75/100
Grant County74/100
Union County73/100
Ballard County73/100
Trigg County73/100
Carroll County71/100
Marion County71/100
Grayson County71/100
Allen County71/100
Wayne County69/100
Livingston County66/100
Ohio County66/100
Todd County66/100
Muhlenberg County65/100
Pulaski County65/100
Oldham County64/100
Nelson County64/100
Hopkins County62/100
Rowan County61/100
Garrard County59/100
Marshall County58/100
Kenton County58/100
Shelby County57/100
Caldwell County57/100
Bullitt County56/100
Hardin County55/100
Logan County55/100
Knox County54/100
Woodford County53/100
Barren County53/100
Bourbon County53/100
Laurel County50/100
Boyle County50/100
Graves County49/100
Taylor County45/100
Campbell County45/100
Scott County43/100
Calloway County40/100
Madison County37/100
Jessamine County34/100
Franklin County31/100
Boyd County31/100
Boone County30/100
McCracken County30/100
Mason County28/100
Montgomery County27/100
Henderson County27/100
Simpson County25/100
Bell County21/100
Fulton County18/100
Christian County15/100
Clark County15/100
Daviess County13/100
Warren County10/100
Fayette County6/100
Jefferson County5/100

Crime rates per 100K population. — = data pending.

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Data Sources

Crime data sourced from the FBI Crime Data Explorer (UCR) and County Health Rankings. Safety scores are derived composite metrics.

Data is informational only. Not legal or security advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.

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