How Safe or Dangerous Is Kentucky in 2024?
Kentucky Safety Scores, out of 100 points (2023)
Kentucky, with a 52/100 safety score from overall crime, stands as a state with safety that can be unpredictable at times.
- Overall Crime (safety score): 52
- Violent Crime (safety score): 50
- Property Crime (safety score): 58
Compared to the U.S. average for safety scores from overall crime, this state is slightly safer (+2 pts higher), slightly safer from violent crime (+2 pts higher), and somewhat safer from property crime (+5 pts higher).
Where Does Kentucky Rank in Safety Among U.S. States in 2023?
- Overall Crime (safety ranking): 22nd
- Violent Crime (safety ranking): 22nd
- Property Crime (safety ranking): 25th
Considering the 50 states in America (and D.C.), that have crime data available, Kentucky state is ranked 22nd in overall safety from overall crime, making it a slightly safer state comparatively speaking. In terms of individual categories of violent and property crime, Kentucky is ranked 22nd on safety from violent crime, meaning it's a slightly safer state for this category of crime. With respect to safety from property crime, this state is positioned 25th and is a moderately secure state relative to others.
Is Kentucky Becoming Safer or More Dangerous?
Year-on-Year Change in Safety Scores (2023 vs. 2022)
- Overall Crime (Year-on-Year): -1 percentage point
- Violent Crime (Year-on-Year): no change
- Property Crime (Year-on-Year): -1 percentage point
Compared to 2022 regarding safety scores from overall crime, this state in 2023 is slightly more dangerous overall (-1 pts lower), the same in terms of safety levels from violent crime (unchanged), and slightly more dangerous from property crime (-1 pts lower).
What Is the Likelihood of Becoming a Crime Victim in Kentucky in 2024?
- Overall Crime: Low
- Violent Crime: Low
- Property Crime: Minor
In Kentucky, the overall risk of becoming a victim of crime is low. Specifically, the risk of becoming a victim of violent crime is low, and the risk of becoming a victim of property crime is minor.
What Are the Overall Crime Trends in Kentucky from 2017 to 2023?
Current Safety from Overall Crime: State Score vs. U.S. Average
| Safety Scores from Total Crime | |
|---|---|
| KY State | 52 |
| U.S. Avg. | 50 |
Safety from Overall Crime (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average
| KY State | U.S. Avg. | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 52 | 50 |
| 2022 | 53 | 46 |
| 2021 | 49 | 45 |
| 2020 | 49 | 44 |
| 2019 | 51 | 45 |
| 2018 | 49 | 44 |
| 2017 | 47 | 42 |
Data on crime rates in Kentucky show that for overall crime, the state now compared to the pre-pandemic years, is slightly safer (+3 pts higher), still on par with the 2017-2019 period in terms of safety from violent crime (unchanged), and safer now from property crime (+12 pts higher).
Analysis of nationwide crime rates indicates that the U.S. in terms of overall crime now compared to the pre-pandemic years, is somewhat safer (+6 pts higher), slightly safer now from violent crime (+4 pts higher), and somewhat safer now from property crime (+9 pts higher).
Learn more about Kentucky's violent crime and property crime in our detailed sections.
Violent Crime: How Safe or Dangerous Is Kentucky in 2024?
Safety Scores from Violent Crime, out of 100 points (2023)
With a 50/100 safety score from violent crime, Kentucky embodies fair safety with some inconsistency.
- Overall Violent Crime (safety score): 50
- Murder (safety score): 30
- Rape (safety score): 57
- Robbery (safety score): 67
- Aggravated Assault (safety score): 57
Compared to the U.S. average for safety scores from violent crime, this state is slightly safer (+2 pts higher), more dangerous from murder (-10 pts lower), slightly safer from rape (+2 pts higher), somewhat safer from robbery (+9 pts higher), and safer from aggravated assault (+14 pts higher).
How Does Kentucky Rank in Violent Crime Among U.S. States in 2023?
- Overall Violent Crime (safety ranking): 22nd
- Murder (safety ranking): 32nd
- Rape (safety ranking): 14th
- Robbery (safety ranking): 27th
- Aggravated Assault (safety ranking): 12th
Looking at the 50 states in America (and D.C.), where crime data has been reported, Kentucky state is ranked 22nd in overall safety from violent crime, making it a slightly safer state comparatively speaking. In terms of individual categories of violent crime, Kentucky is ranked 32nd on safety from murder, meaning it's a somewhat more dangerous state for this type of crime. With respect to safety from rape, this state is positioned 14th and is a safer state relative to others. Regarding safety from robbery, this state comes in at 27th place, indicating that it's a moderately secure state, and for safety from aggravated assault, it's ranked 12th, making it a safer state.
Is Violent Crime Increasing or Decreasing in Kentucky?
Year-on-Year Change in Safety Scores from Violent Crime (2023 vs. 2022)
- Overall Violent Crime (Year-on-Year): no change
- Murder (Year-on-Year): no change
- Rape (Year-on-Year): +2 percentage points
- Robbery (Year-on-Year): -2 percentage points
- Aggravated Assault (Year-on-Year): -4 percentage points
Compared to 2022 regarding safety scores from violent crime, this state in 2023 is the same in terms of overall safety levels (unchanged), the same in terms of safety levels from murder (unchanged), slightly safer from rape (+2 pts higher), slightly more dangerous from robbery (-2 pts lower), and slightly more dangerous from aggravated assault (-4 pts lower).
What Is the Likelihood of Experiencing Violent Crime in Kentucky in 2024?
- Overall Violent Crime: Low
- Murder: Moderate
- Rape: Low
- Robbery: Minor
- Aggravated Assault: Minor
In Kentucky, the risk of becoming a victim of violent crime is low. Beware of Murder.
What Are the Violent Crime Trends in Kentucky from 2017 to 2023?
Current Safety from Violent Crime: State Score vs. U.S. Average
| Safety Scores from Total Violent Crime | |
|---|---|
| KY State | 50 |
| U.S. Avg. | 48 |
Safety from Violent Crime (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average
| KY State | U.S. Avg. | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 50 | 48 |
| 2022 | 50 | 43 |
| 2021 | 46 | 41 |
| 2020 | 48 | 42 |
| 2019 | 52 | 44 |
| 2018 | 50 | 44 |
| 2017 | 48 | 43 |
Inspection of crime data in Kentucky reveals that for violent crime, the state compared to the pre-pandemic years, is still level with that period in terms of safety from violent crime (unchanged), somewhat more dangerous now from murder (-8 pts lower), somewhat safer now from rape (+8 pts higher), somewhat safer now from robbery (+7 pts higher), and somewhat more dangerous now from aggravated assault (-6 pts lower).
Analyzing U.S. crime rates, for overall violent crime, the present U.S., against the backdrop of the pre-pandemic era, is slightly safer (+4 pts higher), slightly more dangerous now from murder (-1 pts lower), somewhat safer now from rape (+9 pts higher), safer now from robbery (+11 pts higher), and still on par with the 2017-2019 period in terms of safety from aggravated assault (unchanged).
What Are the Murder Trends in Kentucky from 2017 to 2023?
Current Safety from Murder: State Score vs. U.S. Average
| Safety Scores from Homicide | |
|---|---|
| KY State | 30 |
| U.S. Avg. | 40 |
Safety from Murder (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average
| KY State | U.S. Avg. | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 30 | 40 |
| 2022 | 30 | 33 |
| 2021 | 29 | 30 |
| 2020 | 30 | 32 |
| 2019 | 41 | 41 |
| 2018 | 38 | 42 |
| 2017 | 36 | 40 |
What Are the Rape Trends in Kentucky from 2017 to 2023?
Current Safety from Rape: State Score vs. U.S. Average
| Safety Scores from Rape | |
|---|---|
| KY State | 57 |
| U.S. Avg. | 55 |
Safety from Rape (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average
| KY State | U.S. Avg. | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 57 | 55 |
| 2022 | 55 | 49 |
| 2021 | 51 | 47 |
| 2020 | 58 | 51 |
| 2019 | 51 | 45 |
| 2018 | 47 | 45 |
| 2017 | 48 | 47 |
What Are the Robbery Trends in Kentucky from 2017 to 2023?
Current Safety from Robbery: State Score vs. U.S. Average
| Safety Scores from Robbery | |
|---|---|
| KY State | 67 |
| U.S. Avg. | 58 |
Safety from Robbery (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average
| KY State | U.S. Avg. | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 67 | 58 |
| 2022 | 69 | 56 |
| 2021 | 62 | 56 |
| 2020 | 61 | 53 |
| 2019 | 63 | 50 |
| 2018 | 60 | 48 |
| 2017 | 56 | 43 |
What Are the Aggravated Assault Trends in Kentucky from 2017 to 2023?
Current Safety from Aggravated Assault: State Score vs. U.S. Average
| Safety Scores from Aggravated Assault | |
|---|---|
| KY State | 57 |
| U.S. Avg. | 43 |
Safety from Aggravated Assault (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average
| KY State | U.S. Avg. | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 57 | 43 |
| 2022 | 61 | 41 |
| 2021 | 55 | 41 |
| 2020 | 55 | 40 |
| 2019 | 62 | 43 |
| 2018 | 64 | 44 |
| 2017 | 64 | 43 |
Property Crime: How Safe or Dangerous Is Kentucky in 2024?
Safety Scores from Property Crime, out of 100 points (2023)
With a safety score from property crime of 58/100, Kentucky is recognized for its satisfactory safety and standard property crime rates.
- Overall Property Crime (safety score): 58
- Burglary (safety score): 54
- Larceny (safety score): 65
- Auto Theft (safety score): 54
- Arson (safety score): 50
Compared to the U.S. average for safety scores from property crime, this state is somewhat safer (+5 pts higher), slightly more dangerous from burglary (-4 pts lower), somewhat safer from larceny (+8 pts higher), safer from auto theft (+15 pts higher), and somewhat safer from arson (+5 pts higher).
How Does Kentucky Rank in Property Crime Among U.S. States in 2023?
- Overall Property Crime (safety ranking): 25th
- Burglary (safety ranking): 32nd
- Larceny (safety ranking): 7th
- Auto Theft (safety ranking): 28th
- Arson (safety ranking): 18th
In the case of the 50 states in America (and D.C.) with recorded crime data, Kentucky state is ranked 25th in overall safety from property crime, making it a moderately secure state relative to others. In terms of individual categories of property crime, Kentucky is ranked 32nd on safety from burglary, meaning it's a somewhat more dangerous state for this type of crime. With respect to safety from larceny, this state is positioned 7th and is a considerably safer state relative to others. Regarding safety from auto theft, this state comes in at 28th place, indicating that it's a slightly more dangerous state, and for safety from arson, it's ranked 18th, making it a somewhat safer state.
Is Property Crime Increasing or Decreasing in Kentucky?
Year-on-Year Change in Safety Scores from Property Crime (2023 vs. 2022)
- Overall Property Crime (Year-on-Year): -1 percentage point
- Burglary (Year-on-Year): -3 percentage points
- Larceny (Year-on-Year): no change
- Auto Theft (Year-on-Year): +1 percentage point
- Arson (Year-on-Year): -5 percentage points
Compared to 2022 regarding safety scores from property crime, this state in 2023 is slightly more dangerous overall (-1 pts lower), slightly more dangerous from burglary (-3 pts lower), the same in terms of safety levels from larceny (unchanged), slightly safer from auto theft (+1 pts higher), and somewhat more dangerous from arson (-5 pts lower).
What Is the Likelihood of Experiencing Property Crime in Kentucky in 2024?
- Overall Property Crime: Minor
- Burglary: Low
- Larceny: Minor
- Auto Theft: Low
- Arson: Low
In Kentucky, the risk of becoming a victim of property crime is minor.
What Are the Property Crime Trends in Kentucky from 2017 to 2023?
Current Safety from Property Crime: State Score vs. U.S. Average
| Safety Scores from Total Property Crime | |
|---|---|
| KY State | 58 |
| U.S. Avg. | 53 |
Safety from Property Crime (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average
| KY State | U.S. Avg. | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 58 | 53 |
| 2022 | 59 | 51 |
| 2021 | 55 | 53 |
| 2020 | 50 | 49 |
| 2019 | 49 | 48 |
| 2018 | 47 | 45 |
| 2017 | 43 | 41 |
Investigating Kentucky's crime rates uncovers that in terms of property crime, the state’s current situation compared to pre-pandemic years, is safer (+12 pts higher), safer now from burglary (+17 pts higher), safer now from larceny (+10 pts higher), slightly safer now from auto theft (+3 pts higher), and somewhat safer now from arson (+6 pts higher).
Assessing U.S. crime statistics indicates that, with regard to overall property crime, the current state, juxtaposed with pre-pandemic levels, is somewhat safer (+9 pts higher), safer now from burglary (+19 pts higher), somewhat safer now from larceny (+8 pts higher), more dangerous now from auto theft (-12 pts lower), and somewhat safer now from arson (+6 pts higher).
What Are the Burglary Trends in Kentucky from 2017 to 2023?
Current Safety from Burglary: State Score vs. U.S. Average
| Safety Scores from Burglary | |
|---|---|
| KY State | 54 |
| U.S. Avg. | 58 |
Safety from Burglary (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average
| KY State | U.S. Avg. | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 54 | 58 |
| 2022 | 57 | 54 |
| 2021 | 51 | 53 |
| 2020 | 44 | 48 |
| 2019 | 43 | 44 |
| 2018 | 38 | 39 |
| 2017 | 30 | 32 |
What Are the Larceny Trends in Kentucky from 2017 to 2023?
Current Safety from Larceny: State Score vs. U.S. Average
| Safety Scores from Larceny | |
|---|---|
| KY State | 65 |
| U.S. Avg. | 57 |
Safety from Larceny (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average
| KY State | U.S. Avg. | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 65 | 57 |
| 2022 | 65 | 54 |
| 2021 | 62 | 57 |
| 2020 | 60 | 54 |
| 2019 | 56 | 50 |
| 2018 | 55 | 49 |
| 2017 | 53 | 47 |
What Are the Auto Theft Trends in Kentucky from 2017 to 2023?
Current Safety from Auto Theft: State Score vs. U.S. Average
| Safety Scores from Auto Theft | |
|---|---|
| KY State | 54 |
| U.S. Avg. | 39 |
Safety from Auto Theft (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average
| KY State | U.S. Avg. | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 54 | 39 |
| 2022 | 53 | 44 |
| 2021 | 49 | 48 |
| 2020 | 48 | 49 |
| 2019 | 51 | 52 |
| 2018 | 51 | 51 |
| 2017 | 51 | 50 |
What Are the Arson Trends in Kentucky from 2017 to 2023?
Current Safety from Arson: State Score vs. U.S. Average
| Safety Scores from Arson | |
|---|---|
| KY State | 50 |
| U.S. Avg. | 45 |
Safety from Arson (2017-2023): State Score vs. U.S. Average
| KY State | U.S. Avg. | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 50 | 45 |
| 2022 | 55 | 40 |
| 2021 | 47 | 50 |
| 2020 | 43 | 33 |
| 2019 | 45 | 42 |
| 2018 | 46 | 39 |
| 2017 | 41 | 35 |
The assessments presented on this website, including those related to crime, safety, cost of living, and other location characteristics (e.g., states, cities, towns, villages, neighborhoods, areas, landmarks), are based on various sources and our internal research methods. These assessments are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete and should not be used as the sole basis for making any decisions.