Whether you live in the Bluegrass State or are just looking to get a taste of that smooth Kentucky whiskey, you want to make sure you stay safe. Part of ensuring your safety is being aware of the most dangerous places in Kentucky. Find out which are the top five most dangerous places in Kentucky and what makes them so unsafe in this article.
Is Kentucky Dangerous?
Kentucky’s violent and property crime rates are below the national average.
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Compared to the nation as a whole, Kentucky is a safe state to live in and visit. Your chance of becoming the victim of a violent crime is one in 467. According to the most recent data published by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, America’s overall violent crime rate is four per 1,000 people. The country’s property crime rate is 20.7 per 1,000 people.
Kentucky’s violent crime rate is 2.7 per 1,000 people. Property crime occurs in the state at a rate of 14.5 per 1,000 residents. For both types of crime, Kentucky’s numbers show that the Bluegrass State is safer than the country as a whole. Like all areas, however, no matter how safe, there are places that struggle with violence and crime. Let’s take a look at Kentucky’s top five most dangerous places.
The Top 5 Most Dangerous Places in Kentucky
When it comes to concerns about safety, a SafeWise.com poll of Kentucky residents showed that they were almost just as concerned about property crime as they were about violent crime. About 60 percent of residents were most concerned about violent crime. Close to 55 percent selected property crime as their biggest concern.
To rate the top five most dangerous places in Kentucky, we gave greater consideration to violent crime rates over property crime rates. These places have the top five highest violent crime rates in the state. The rate of property crime is also listed to give you an overall picture of crime in each area.
#5 Oak Grove — Violent Crime Rate: 3.3/1,000
The community of Oak Grove was named for the oak trees near the original town site.
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Located in Christian County in the southwestern part of Kentucky, Oak Grove’s violent crime rate of 3.3 per 1,000 people is lower than the national average but higher than the state’s 2.7 per 1,000. While the city of nearly 8,000 might not sound too dangerous at first glance, a closer look at a breakdown of violent crime is more daunting.
In Oak Grove, murder occurs at more than six times the national rate. Rape crimes are reported to police at twice the national rate. Neighborhood Scout gives Oak Grove a safety rating of 11 out of 100, meaning the city is safer than just 11 percent of all U.S. neighborhoods. Property crime is even more of a concern in the area occurring at a rate of 27.26 per 1,000. That number is higher than both the nation (20.7/1,000) and the state (14.5/1,000).
#4 Owensboro — Violent Crime Rate: 3.68/1,000
Owensboro is more dangerous than 94 percent of all U.S. cities.
The fourth most populous city in Kentucky is also its fourth most dangerous. Located in Daviess County in the northwest of the state, Owensboro has a population of 60,183. With a violent crime rate of 3.68 per 1,000, Owensboro is more dangerous than the United States as a whole. While rape crimes and motor vehicle theft occur at around twice the national rate, murder, assault, and robbery rates are lower than the U.S. average.
Neighborhood Scout gives Owensboro a rating of 6 out of 100, meaning the city is safer than just six percent of all cities in the country. Your chances of becoming the victim of a violent crime in Owensboro is one in 272. Your chances of becoming a victim of a property crime, however, skyrocket to one in 29 as compared to the Kentucky rate of one in 69.
#3 Hopkinsville — Violent Crime Rate: 3.65/1,000
Hopkinsville is home to the Christian County Courthouse and is the county seat of Christian County.
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About 80 miles south of Owensboro, Hopkinsville is Kentucky’s third most dangerous place. Located in Christian County, the city is home to 31,180 residents. Almost all types of crimes eclipse both the state and national rates. Hopkinsville’s murder rate is almost three times that of the U.S. rate. Rape crimes occur at almost double the national rate and robbery is also more common than in the rest of the country.
Neighborhood Scout rates Hopkinsville a five out of 100, meaning 95 percent of cities in the country are safer than Hopkinsville. Your chances of becoming a victim of a violent crime in Kentucky’s third most dangerous city are one in 274 compared to one in 467 in Kentucky. Property crime is also a problem in Hopkinsville with burglary and theft rates almost double the national rates.
#2 Shively — Violent Crime Rate: 4.91/1,000
Shively is a suburb of Louisville, KY, and the state’s second most dangerous place.
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A suburb of Kentucky’s largest city, Shively is located in Jefferson County in the center of the state’s northern border with Indiana. With a violent crime rate of 4.91 out of every 1,000 people, it is Kentucky’s second most dangerous place. While still under the U.S. violent crime rate of 4 per 1,000 people, Shively’s murder rate approaches six times the national rate.
Your chance of falling victim to a violent crime in Shively is one in 204, more than double your chance in the state overall. Neighborhood Scout rated Shively a seven out of 100 for safety, meaning the city is only safer than seven percent of all U.S. neighborhoods. Property crime occurs in Shively at a rate of 33.5 per 1,000 people. That’s more than double Kentucky’s rate.
#1 Louisville — Violent Crime Rate: 7.51/1,000
Louisville, KY, is located along the Ohio River.
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The most violent and dangerous place in Kentucky is also its largest city. Home of the annual Kentucky Derby and the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, Louisville struggles with an exceptionally high rate of violent crime. Gun violence hits the city particularly hard. In 2021, 178 people were murdered. That amount dropped slightly in 2022 when 157 people were murdered. Last year, police reported another small decrease to 150 murders. According to WDRB News, there were 440 shootings total in Louisville in 2022.
Louisville’s murder rate is tragically close to five times that of the country as a whole. The violent crime rate in Louisville is 473.4 out of 100,000. Compared to other metro areas in the United States of similar size, Louisville’s rates remain high. Sacramento, CA, is considered a dangerous city, yet its elevated rate of 375.9 per 100,000 people remains lower than that of Louisville’s.
While Louisville is more dangerous than any other city in Kentucky, a study by CBS News found that Louisville’s murder rate is number 46 out of all U.S. cities, so it is by no means the country’s most dangerous city. Violent crime overall, however, places Louisville near the center at number eight among 17 peer cities according to the Greater Louisville Project.
Kentucky’s most dangerous place is also flooded with property crimes. Its rate of 2,234.6 per 100,000 people is higher than Sacramento’s rate of 1,987.3 per 100,000. Property crime in Louisville is 88 percent higher than Kentucky’s average. With all its problems, however, 633,045 people choose to make their homes in Louisville. Its comfortable weather, low cost of living, and thriving culture make Louisville an attractive place to live despite its struggle with violence and crime.
Summary Table of the Top 5 Most Dangerous Places in Kentucky
| Rank | Name | Violent Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Louisville | 7.51/1,000 |
| #2 | Shively | 4.91/1,000 |
| #3 | Hopkinsville | 3.65/1,000 |
| #4 | Owensboro | 3.68/1,000 |
| #5 | Oak Grove | 3.3/1,000 |
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