Top 10 most dangerous cities in Kentucky

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.

Shively Population: 15,723 486 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.33 chance of being a victim: 1 in 206 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,582

Shively, KY holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Kentucky with 486 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (168), robbery (227), rape (58) and homicide (32) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 127% 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.

Lyndon Population: 11,451 459 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.26 chance of being a victim: 1 in 218 Total Crimes / 100k: 9,820

The second most dangerous city is Lyndon. With a population of 11,451 and a violent crime rate that is 114% higher than the Kentucky average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Lyndon are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 459 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 218 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Hopkinsville Population: 31,052 370 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.01 chance of being a victim: 1 in 270 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,082

Home to 31,052 residents, Hopkinsville, KY ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Kentucky. Unfortunately for residents of Hopkinsville, crime is widespread, with more than 370 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.01 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 73% higher than the Kentucky violent crime rate.

Owensboro Population: 59,796 369 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.01 chance of being a victim: 1 in 271 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,829

With a violent crime rate that is 73% higher than the Kentucky average, it's not hard to see why Owensboro made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (65), assault (217), rape (82) and homicide (5). 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 Owensboro more vulnerable to high crime.

Pikeville Population: 6,642 306 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.84 chance of being a victim: 1 in 327 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,476

The ongoing battle with crime in Pikeville, 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 306 and a 1 in 327 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Pikeville has a violent crime rate that is 43% 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 Pikeville.

Oak Grove Population: 7,332 294 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.81 chance of being a victim: 1 in 340 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,086

Oak Grove, KY comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 294 per 100,000 people, which is 38% higher than the Kentucky average. Oak Grove has a population of 7,332, which translates to 0.81 crimes per day and 1 in 340 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 Oak Grove which are much safer than others.

Middlesborough Population: 9,242 293 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.80 chance of being a victim: 1 in 341 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,929

A 1 in 341 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.80 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Middlesborough makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 293 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 37% higher than the Kentucky average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (206), robbery (43), rape (43) and homicide (0).

Newport Population: 15,045 293 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.80 chance of being a victim: 1 in 342 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,275

Newport, KY is another one of the most dangerous cities in Kentucky and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 15,045 and a violent crime rate of 293 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 136 counts of assault, 36 counts of robbery, 114 counts of rape and 7 counts of homicide. All told, the Newport violent crime rate is 37% higher than the Kentucky average.

Bowling Green Population: 71,628 285 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.78 chance of being a victim: 1 in 351 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,102

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, Bowling Green, KY comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Kentucky with a violent crime rate of 285 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.78 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 351 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Corbin Population: 7,558 271 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.74 chance of being a victim: 1 in 370 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,319

Rounding out our list at #10 is Corbin, KY. With a population of 7,558 and a violent crime rate of 271 per 100,000 people (26% higher than the Kentucky average), some parts of Corbin are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 232 counts of assault, 26 counts of robbery, 13 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 370 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	Shively	15,723	486	3,582
2	Lyndon	11,451	459	9,820
3	Hopkinsville	31,052	370	4,082
4	Owensboro	59,796	369	3,829
5	Pikeville	6,642	306	2,476
6	Oak Grove	7,332	294	3,086
7	Middlesborough	9,242	293	3,929
8	Newport	15,045	293	3,275
9	Bowling Green	71,628	285	4,102
10	Corbin	7,558	271	2,319
11	Lexington-Fayette	322,200	270	2,986
12	Paducah	24,947	269	3,301
13	Covington	40,466	268	2,019
14	Russellville	7,056	262	2,784
15	Somerset	11,548	247	2,104
16	Henderson	28,469	244	2,280
17	Morehead	7,653	242	2,020
18	Central City	5,770	238	2,447
19	Frankfort	27,705	231	2,167
20	Mayfield	9,823	211	2,519
21	Radcliff	22,796	205	2,420
22	Florence	32,721	195	4,378
23	Shepherdsville	13,757	194	1,856
24	Ashland	20,449	188	2,657
25	Williamsburg	5,266	187	1,028
26	Franklin	8,909	187	2,880
27	Leitchfield	6,789	187	1,881
28	Winchester	18,520	184	3,565
29	Richmond	35,744	180	2,311
30	Dayton	5,550	176	1,003
31	London	8,058	176	4,526
32	Lebanon	5,960	170	1,329
33	Glasgow	14,394	165	2,060
34	Princeton	6,087	162	1,664
35	Monticello	5,999	158	1,407
36	La Grange	8,938	155	1,469
37	Hillview	9,066	149	1,640
38	Bardstown	13,169	139	1,809
39	Middletown	7,885	135	3,198
40	Danville	16,801	133	1,478
41	Nicholasville	30,549	132	1,844
42	Murray	19,254	131	1,777
43	Elizabethtown	30,179	123	1,017
44	Campbellsville	11,370	121	1,663
45	Fort Wright	5,766	120	687
46	Shelbyville	16,244	120	1,293
47	St. Matthews	18,022	115	4,832
48	Maysville	8,752	115	2,410
49	Georgetown	34,362	113	1,510
50	Elsmere	8,617	109	1,289

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.