Kentucky Crime Grades A-F (2024)

Statewide grade B

145 cities graded A+ through F based on 2024 FBI crime data. State overall score: 65/100 (Above Average).

What is Kentucky’s crime safety grade?

Kentucky earned an overall safety grade of B (score: 65/100, Above Average) based on 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program data, with a statewide violent crime rate of 225.5 per 100,000 and property crime rate of 1397.1 per 100,000. PlainCrime graded 145 Kentucky cities with reportable crime data against national benchmarks, producing an A+ through F score for each jurisdiction. Grades weigh violent and property crime rates: cities more than 50% below the national average typically earn A or A+, while cities significantly above average receive D or F ratings.

Across the 145 graded Kentucky cities, 23 earned A+, 71 earned A, 29 received B, 19 landed at C, 2 received D, and 1 fell to F in the 2024 scoring. The highest-rated city is Independence with an A+ grade (score: 95/100, violent rate 26.9/100K). The lowest-rated city is Louisville Metro with a F grade (score: 1/100, violent rate 707.4/100K).

Roughly 65% of graded cities in Kentucky achieved an A or A+ rating, while 2% received a D or F. Cities missing from this table either did not submit complete 2024 UCR data, fell below the minimum population threshold for reliable rate calculation, or report through consolidated agencies that aggregate into county or regional totals instead of individual city figures. Grade boundaries use the national violent and property crime rate averages for 2024 as the reference point, so grades are directly comparable between Kentucky and other states on the site.

A safety grade condenses several FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) measures into a single letter, ranking each state's violent and property crime rates against the national distribution rather than a fixed cutoff. A high grade therefore means a state compares well to its peers in a given year, not that it is free of crime. Grades move as the underlying rates move and as agency reporting completeness shifts from year to year. Two states with the same letter can have very different profiles: one may carry a higher violent-crime rate offset by low property crime, the other the reverse. Use the grade as a quick orientation, then read the component rates beneath it to see what is actually driving the number for this state.

A+

23 cities

71 cities

29 cities

19 cities

2 cities

1 cities

Independence

27
Wilmore

16
Vine Grove

29
Cave City

42
Liberty

50
Taylor Mill

43
Flatwoods

56
Owenton

60

What this shows Independence reports the lowest violent-crime rate in Kentucky. At 26.9 per 100K, it runs well below the Kentucky average of 225.5. These eight cities anchor the safe end of the state.

#	Grade	City	Score	Violent Rate	Property Rate	Population
1	A+	Independence	95	26.9/100K	316/100K	29,747
2	A+	Wilmore	94	16.3/100K	456.2/100K	6,137
3	A+	Vine Grove	94	28.5/100K	328.1/100K	7,011
4	A+	Cave City	94	42.4/100K	254.2/100K	2,360
5	A+	Liberty	94	50.1/100K	100.2/100K	1,996
6	A+	Taylor Mill	93	43.1/100K	330.6/100K	6,957
7	A+	Flatwoods	93	55.6/100K	208.3/100K	7,200
8	A+	Owenton	93	60.1/100K	60.1/100K	1,663
9	A+	Stanton	92	31.6/100K	568.7/100K	3,165
10	A+	Mount Washington	92	31.9/100K	558.2/100K	18,811
11	A+	Auburn	92	60.6/100K	242.3/100K	1,651
12	A+	Brandenburg	91	33.8/100K	607.7/100K	2,962
13	A+	Fort Thomas	91	47.5/100K	487.3/100K	16,826
14	A+	Carrollton	91	51/100K	484.4/100K	3,922
15	A+	Whitesburg	91	61.6/100K	307.9/100K	1,624
16	A+	Springfield	91	67.4/100K	303.1/100K	2,969
17	A+	Columbia	91	81.7/100K	122.6/100K	4,895
18	A+	Morganfield	90	32.2/100K	772.4/100K	3,107
19	A+	Lawrenceburg	90	57.2/100K	539.2/100K	12,241
20	A+	Edgewood	90	59.7/100K	417.6/100K	8,382
21	A+	Greenville	90	69.1/100K	345.7/100K	4,339
22	A+	West Liberty	90	84.9/100K	141.4/100K	3,535
23	A+	Beattyville	90	93.4/100K	93.4/100K	2,141
24	A	Jackson	89	47.8/100K	716.7/100K	2,093
25	A	Fort Wright	89	65.2/100K	505.5/100K	6,132
26	A	Williamstown	89	75.3/100K	376.6/100K	3,983
27	A	Stanford	89	80.8/100K	350/100K	3,714
28	A	Clinton	89	83.6/100K	250.8/100K	1,196
29	A	Beaver Dam	89	86/100K	258.1/100K	3,487
30	A	Flemingsburg	88	33.3/100K	967/100K	2,999
31	A	Cadiz	88	36.1/100K	974/100K	2,772
32	A	Alexandria	88	55.7/100K	723.7/100K	10,778
33	A	Fort Mitchell	88	58/100K	754.3/100K	8,617
34	A	Olive Hill	88	65.1/100K	651.5/100K	1,535
35	A	Erlanger	88	70.6/100K	524.5/100K	19,827
36	A	Hazard	87	61.5/100K	779/100K	4,878
37	A	Versailles	87	68.5/100K	757.4/100K	27,727
38	A	Augusta	87	91.9/100K	459.6/100K	1,088
39	A	Marion	86	34.6/100K	1177.7/100K	2,887
40	A	Pineville	86	63.2/100K	885/100K	1,582
41	A	Villa Hills	86	65.7/100K	827.2/100K	7,616
42	A	Pioneer Village	86	72.5/100K	724.6/100K	2,760
43	A	Madisonville	86	88.1/100K	590.9/100K	19,294
44	A	Park Hills	86	95.5/100K	477.4/100K	3,142
45	A	Lakeside Park-Crestview Hills	85	66.4/100K	978.8/100K	6,028
46	A	La Grange	85	66.4/100K	911.1/100K	10,537
47	A	Dawson Springs	85	93.5/100K	654.8/100K	2,138
48	A	Wilder	85	97.5/100K	650.2/100K	3,076
49	A	Lancaster	84	73.2/100K	951/100K	4,101
50	A	Highland Heights	84	75.7/100K	969.1/100K	6,604
51	A	Southgate	84	79.2/100K	871.6/100K	3,786
52	A	Berea	84	86.8/100K	849.1/100K	16,135
53	A	Monticello	84	87.6/100K	788.6/100K	5,706
54	A	Muldraugh	84	99.4/100K	695.8/100K	1,006
55	A	Edmonton	84	116.7/100K	466.7/100K	1,714
56	A	Mount Vernon	84	122.1/100K	407/100K	2,457
57	A	Owingsville	84	125.2/100K	375.5/100K	1,598
58	A	Irvington	84	143.7/100K	215.5/100K	1,392
59	A	Princeton	83	16.2/100K	1717.2/100K	6,173
60	A	Central City	83	86.1/100K	981.4/100K	5,808
61	A	Elsmere	83	98.5/100K	831.5/100K	9,140
62	A	Russell Springs	83	106.5/100K	745.5/100K	2,817
63	A	Scottsville	83	108.3/100K	714.9/100K	4,616
64	A	Hardinsburg	83	121.5/100K	526.5/100K	2,469
65	A	Bellevue	82	87.5/100K	1015.2/100K	5,713
66	A	Ludlow	81	92.7/100K	1089.7/100K	4,313
67	A	Russellville	81	93.7/100K	1124.5/100K	7,470
68	A	Raceland	81	174.7/100K	218.4/100K	2,289
69	A	Benton	80	83.9/100K	1322.1/100K	4,765
70	A	Danville	80	109.2/100K	1045.6/100K	17,406
71	A	Paris	80	129.3/100K	805.4/100K	10,057
72	A	Elizabethtown	80	137.2/100K	698/100K	33,522
73	A	Guthrie	80	149.9/100K	524.7/100K	1,334
74	A	Williamsburg	80	156.3/100K	508/100K	5,118
75	A	Audubon Park	79	71.4/100K	1570.3/100K	1,401
76	A	Leitchfield	79	92.6/100K	1296.3/100K	6,480
77	A	Irvine	79	176.9/100K	442.3/100K	2,261
78	A	Murray	78	99/100K	1429.3/100K	18,191
79	A	Morehead	78	105.9/100K	1362/100K	6,608
80	A	Georgetown	78	122.4/100K	1168.9/100K	40,037
81	A	Shelbyville	78	133.6/100K	1007.9/100K	17,959
82	A	Franklin	78	142.1/100K	881/100K	10,556
83	A	Heritage Creek	78	166.5/100K	582.8/100K	1,201
84	A	Prestonsburg	78	191.1/100K	300.3/100K	3,663
85	A	Cold Spring	77	61.7/100K	1914.2/100K	6,478
86	A	Louisa	77	156.1/100K	897.4/100K	2,563
87	A	Nicholasville	76	112.6/100K	1497/100K	32,866
88	A	Lebanon	76	151.6/100K	970.4/100K	6,595
89	A	Harrodsburg	76	172.6/100K	809.1/100K	9,270
90	A	Elkton	76	174.8/100K	699.3/100K	2,288
91	A	Hickman	76	218.8/100K	218.8/100K	2,285
92	A	Albany	76	231.3/100K	115.7/100K	1,729
93	A	Millersburg	75	135.5/100K	1355/100K	738
94	A	Morgantown	75	243.2/100K	40.5/100K	2,467
95	B	Cynthiana	74	151.5/100K	1242.4/100K	6,600
96	B	Hartford	74	189.3/100K	833/100K	2,641
97	B	Hillview	72	167.6/100K	1296.1/100K	8,950
98	B	Shepherdsville	71	134.7/100K	1792.1/100K	14,843
99	B	Bardstown	71	165.3/100K	1394/100K	13,917
100	B	Warsaw	71	170.5/100K	1420.5/100K	1,760
101	B	Corbin	71	191.3/100K	1083.8/100K	7,843
102	B	Manchester	71	214.3/100K	857.1/100K	1,400
103	B	Russell	71	221.4/100K	747.1/100K	3,614
104	B	Barbourville	71	224.1/100K	768.2/100K	3,124
105	B	Jeffersontown	70	105/100K	2275.7/100K	28,563
106	B	Dayton	70	240/100K	737.2/100K	5,833
107	B	Lyndon	68	101.1/100K	2528.3/100K	10,877
108	B	Pikeville	68	190.7/100K	1443.6/100K	7,343
109	B	Hodgenville	68	210/100K	1289.7/100K	3,334
110	B	Mount Sterling	68	211.2/100K	1201.3/100K	7,575
111	B	Greensburg	68	222.1/100K	1155/100K	2,251
112	B	Campbellsville	68	230.3/100K	1074.7/100K	11,724
113	B	Falmouth	67	271.5/100K	678.7/100K	2,210
114	B	Harlan	67	275.6/100K	661.5/100K	1,814
115	B	Glasgow	65	168.7/100K	2108.6/100K	15,413
116	B	Radcliff	65	172.1/100K	1999.3/100K	22,658
117	B	Frankfort	65	202.3/100K	1643.2/100K	28,177
118	B	Somerset	65	258.8/100K	1075.4/100K	12,367
119	B	Mayfield	64	197.4/100K	1890.7/100K	9,626
120	B	Taylorsville	64	225.7/100K	1504.9/100K	1,329
121	B	London	63	144.7/100K	2604.6/100K	7,602
122	B	Fulton	62	132.4/100K	2868.5/100K	2,266
123	B	Richmond	61	215.4/100K	1972.6/100K	38,072
124	C	Winchester	59	165.9/100K	2795.2/100K	19,283
125	C	Middletown	58	125/100K	3405.5/100K	9,602
126	C	Ashland	58	199.9/100K	2503.5/100K	21,011
127	C	Maysville	58	220.3/100K	2330.4/100K	8,625
128	C	St. Matthews	57	127.2/100K	5095.7/100K	17,289
129	C	Middlesboro	57	191/100K	2763.7/100K	8,901
130	C	Covington	57	287.9/100K	1634.8/100K	40,984
131	C	Lexington	54	262/100K	2274.4/100K	323,254
132	C	Grayson	54	289.7/100K	1922.6/100K	3,797
133	C	Bowling Green	52	224.5/100K	2928.9/100K	77,503
134	C	Henderson	52	318.8/100K	1815.2/100K	27,600
135	C	Simpsonville	51	193.8/100K	3488.4/100K	3,096
136	C	Oak Grove	51	275.5/100K	2492.2/100K	7,985
137	C	Florence	49	231.9/100K	3213.1/100K	33,208
138	C	Paducah	49	270.4/100K	2794.5/100K	26,624
139	C	Smiths Grove	45	247.5/100K	4579.2/100K	808
140	C	West Buechel	41	295.9/100K	8432/100K	1,352
141	C	Shively	41	305.3/100K	3280.5/100K	15,394
142	C	Owensboro	40	349.4/100K	2917/100K	60,096
143	D	Newport	37	328.4/100K	3838.9/100K	13,702
144	D	Hopkinsville	34	446.3/100K	2505.4/100K	30,694
145	F	Louisville Metro	1	707.4/100K	3326.2/100K	676,843

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kentucky's overall crime safety grade?

Kentucky has an overall safety grade of B (score: 65/100). This is based on the state's aggregate violent crime rate of 225.5 per 100K and property crime rate of 1397.1 per 100K compared to national averages.

How many cities in Kentucky have an A+ safety grade?

23 cities in Kentucky earned an A+ safety grade (2024), meaning their crime rates are well below the national average. 71 additional cities earned an A grade.

Which is the safest city in Kentucky?

Independence is the highest-rated city in Kentucky with an A+ grade (score: 95/100). Its violent crime rate is 26.9 per 100K.

Nationwide states with similar crime grades

FBI UCR peer sets for Kentucky grade pages, ranked across all states so these neighborhoods are not the alphabetically adjacent list below.

Similar safety score

Nearest states by statewide safety score (65/100 here, grade B).

Similar graded-city count

Nearest states by cities with A–F grades (145 here); safety-score peers above are excluded.

Nearby States, Crime Grades

Compare Kentucky's grade distribution with neighboring states, or use the compare tool to benchmark jurisdictions side-by-side.

Explore More

Kentucky Crime Overview → Safest Cities in Kentucky → All State Grades →

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Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, 2024. Safety scores based on violent and property crime rates vs. national averages published in FBI Crime in the United States (CIUS) Table 8. Population figures reference U.S. Census Bureau estimates where FBI-reported populations are unavailable. Verify with FBI.gov UCR and Census.gov QuickFacts.

Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Every figure on PlainCrime is rendered directly from FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on FBI Uniform Crime Reporting source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.