Everything You Need To Know About The Most Dangerous Cities In Kentucky

Kentucky is renowned for its rural and Appalachian scenery rather than its high crime rate. Nevertheless, because of their high rates of violent crime and theft, quite a few areas in the state should still be avoided. See our ranking of Kentucky’s ten worst locations to live if you’re considering moving to the Bluegrass State.

Most Dangerous Cities in Kentucky

Owensboro

Situated in Daviess County in western Kentucky, Owensboro is a violent city. With 60,183 residents, Owensboro has a crime rate that is 65% higher than the national average. Most crimes that occur in Owensboro are property crimes, like car theft and break-ins. In Owensboro in 2023, there were thirty-nine robberies, three homicides, and 130 assaults reported.

Bowling Green

Bowling Green’s high crime rate—which is 76% more than the national average—makes it the most dangerous city in Kentucky. The most notable aspect of Bowling Green, a city in Warren County, is its involvement in the Civil War. With 72,294 residents, theft and burglary account for the majority of crimes in Bowling Green. In 2023, Bowling Green had 3,053 criminal occurrences, of which four involved murder, fifty-six involved robbery, and eighty-seven involved assault. In comparison to the national average, Bowling Green’s average income is 18% lower.

Paducah

The city of Paducah is situated between Nashville and St. Louis. Paducah, which has 25,024 residents, has a crime rate that is 42% higher than the national average. In the city, crimes including assault, theft, burglary, and car theft are frequent. In Paducah, there were six recorded murders in 2023. With an average household income in the city that is 29% less than the national average, a large portion of the region suffers from poverty.

Shively

And when it comes to crime, Shively is among the worst in Kentucky. Part of the larger Louisville Metro area, Shively is situated in Jefferson County. The crime rate in Shively, which has 15,264 residents, is 54% higher than the national average. Home and vehicle theft are frequent occurrences in Shively. Twenty-five murders and thirty-five robberies were among the seventy-five violent incidents reported in 2023. Much of the violence in Shively and the surrounding area is related to drug trafficking and addiction.

Winchester

A city in Clark County, Winchester is a component of the larger Lexington-Fayette metropolitan area. Winchester citizens have a 1 in 31 risk of becoming a victim of crime, with a crime rate that is 41% higher than the national average. In Winchester in 2023, there were 459 criminal occurrences in total, including 335 theft cases, 5 robberies, and 1 murder. Winchester’s average household income is 29% less than the US average.

Oak Grove

One of Kentucky’s most deadly cities, Oak Grove is situated close to Fort Campbell Army Base. The crime rate of Oak Grove, which is in Christian County, is 33% higher than the overall rate. The neighbourhood is rife with theft, and houses and cars are frequently the targets. In 2023, there were three murders and seven robberies reported. Even though these numbers might not seem like much, they are significant given that only 7,931 people are living in the city. Drug involvement in the neighbourhood is a major contributing factor to crime in Oak Grove.

Mayfield

Mayfield is a city in western Kentucky’s Graves County. With 10,017 residents, the city has a crime rate that is 12% higher than the national average. Mayfield sees a high rate of theft, burglary, and auto theft. A large portion of the crime in the area is caused by the prevalence of drug use. In actuality, Mayfield’s violent crime rate is 43% lower than the national average.

Louisville

Kentucky’s largest populated city, Louisville, is a top draw for tourists visiting the region. Because of how much crime there is there, it’s also among Kentucky’s worst cities. Louisville, which has a population of 633,045, has a crime rate that is 32% higher than the national average. With frequent homicides, robberies, and gunshots, Louisville has a high murder rate. Gang activities and related drug trafficking are major contributors to crime in many neighbourhoods.

Covington

Covington is a violent city in northern Kentucky, just south of Cincinnati. The bulk of crimes in Covington are theft-related, and the city’s crime rate is just somewhat lower than the national average. In 2023, there were 821 criminal events in Covington, which included 32 robberies, 97 burglaries, and two murders. The average household income in the Covington area is 17% below the national average, and the area suffers from poverty and unemployment.

Pikeville

Pike County has the town of Pikeville, which is situated in the Appalachian foothills. Pikeville, with a population of 7,754, has one of the highest rates of crime in Kentucky, with a rate 8% higher than the state average. There were 178 crime events in Pikeville in 2023, including thirty-nine burglaries, thirteen assaults, and seven robberies. The bulk of crimes that occur in Pikeville are associated with theft of property.