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

99/100

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 County100/100
Letcher County100/100
Robertson County100/100
Casey County100/100
Clinton County100/100
Leslie County100/100
Magoffin County100/100
Martin County100/100
McCreary County100/100
Trimble County100/100
Cumberland County100/100
Knott County100/100
Lewis County100/100
Monroe County100/100
Adair County100/100
Elliott County100/100
Floyd County100/100
Hancock County100/100
Johnson County100/100
Rockcastle County100/100
Wolfe County100/100
Bracken County100/100
Carlisle County100/100
Edmonson County100/100
Greenup County100/100
Harlan County100/100
Hickman County100/100
McLean County100/100
Menifee County100/100
Perry County100/100
Anderson County99/100
Breathitt County99/100
Butler County99/100
Estill County99/100
Hart County99/100
Lee County99/100
Lincoln County99/100
Morgan County99/100
Nicholas County99/100
Pike County99/100
Powell County99/100
Spencer County99/100
Washington County99/100
Whitley County99/100
Breckinridge County99/100
Fleming County99/100
Gallatin County99/100
Green County99/100
Jackson County99/100
Larue County99/100
Lyon County99/100
Owen County99/100
Russell County99/100
Bath County99/100
Meade County99/100
Metcalfe County99/100
Webster County99/100
Carter County99/100
Clay County99/100
Crittenden County99/100
Harrison County99/100
Henry County99/100
Lawrence County99/100
Mercer County99/100
Pendleton County99/100
Ballard County99/100
Grant County99/100
Trigg County99/100
Union County99/100
Allen County99/100
Carroll County99/100
Grayson County99/100
Marion County99/100
Wayne County99/100
Livingston County99/100
Muhlenberg County99/100
Nelson County99/100
Ohio County99/100
Oldham County99/100
Pulaski County99/100
Todd County99/100
Hopkins County99/100
Rowan County99/100
Garrard County99/100
Kenton County99/100
Marshall County99/100
Shelby County99/100
Bullitt County98/100
Caldwell County98/100
Hardin County98/100
Logan County98/100
Barren County98/100
Bourbon County98/100
Knox County98/100
Woodford County98/100
Boyle County98/100
Graves County98/100
Laurel County98/100
Campbell County98/100
Taylor County98/100
Scott County98/100
Calloway County98/100
Madison County98/100
Jessamine County98/100
Boone County97/100
Boyd County97/100
Franklin County97/100
McCracken County97/100
Mason County97/100
Henderson County97/100
Montgomery County97/100
Simpson County97/100
Bell County97/100
Fulton County97/100
Christian County96/100
Clark County96/100
Daviess County96/100
Warren County96/100
Fayette County95/100
Jefferson County94/100

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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