The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Kentucky For 2022


We used data and science to identify the most dangerous cities in the Bluegrass State for 2022.

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If you're from Kentucky then you know that you have to watch out for more than just crazy Wildcat fans in Lexington and busted, angry moonshiners in Louisville: The Bluegrass State has some pretty dangerous places, too.

It's not all bougie Kentucky Derby fans, either. This flyover state has some pretty scary criminals, and they can be found in Kentucky's most dangerous cities. Lucky for you, RoadSnacks has created a list of the most dangerous places in Kentucky for 2022 and we think that you should definitely check it out before you make any major moves.

How'd we determine the most dangerous places in horse country? We consulted the numbers. In total, we analyzed 74 cities. We looked at the FBI's latest crime report for violent crime and property crime statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents. We discovered that there has been an uptick in both violent and property crimes compared to the national average over the last four years and that the most violent place in Kentucky is Louisville. The 'Ville just can't catch a break: this city also made it on the list of most dangerous cities in the country. And, surprisingly, it's not the most dangerous place in this Midwest state.

If you already live in Kentucky's safest city, consider yourself lucky. But if you don't, and you're looking to move, we suggest crank some Bluegrass and check out our list below before you head out: we wouldn't want you to get caught in any crossfire.

The Most Dangerous Cities In Kentucky For 2022

  1. Bowling Green
  2. Oak Grove
  3. Mayfield
  4. Shively
  5. Paducah
  6. Newport
  7. Owensboro
  8. Maysville
  9. Winchester
  10. Middlesboro

If you guessed that most of Kentucky's problems are centered around many of the state's biggest cities, you guessed right. Cheaper rent and the promise of better jobs with higher wages is usually the draw, but not always the outcome. Surprisingly, however, the state's most dangerous city is not one of the state's most populated.

What's the most dangerous place in Kentucky? That would be, Bowling Green.

If you want to know where the rest of Kentucky's most dangerous cities are located, take a look below. And if you don't find what you're looking for there, head to the bottom.

Learn more about the safest places in Kentucky.

If you're looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.

For more Kentucky reading, check out:

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Kentucky For 2022

The numbers do not lie when it comes to the dangers of Bowling Green -- it's the most dangerous city in Kentucky for 2022. You need to be careful in this southern Kentucky city or you could wind up like one of the victims of the 247 violent crimes that occurred in 2020. Physical safety is not all you have to worry about. Of those incidents, 71 were robberies. So, your valuables are at risk here too.

And while the city is known for producing Corvettes, criminals here are happy to get their hands on any set of wheels -- including yours. The people who reported the 317 car thefts in Bowling Green in 2020, learned that lesson the hard way.

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 71,861
Rank Last Year: 5 (Up 4)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 343 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,446 (Fourth most dangerous)
More on Bowling Green:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Bowling Green, KY

You would think life in a city of 7,299 would be relatively safe and easy going. Not in Oak Grove. The crime numbers here may be smaller than those of other areas in the state but that does not make them insignificant. Members of the Oak Grove Police Department still have their work cut out for them.

Holding criminals accountable for making off with items that belong to others seems to be where most of their attention went in 2020. People in Oak Grove reported 169 larcenies, 38 burglaries, and 28 stolen cars that year.

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 7,299
Rank Last Year: 4 (Up 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 575 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,219 (11th most dangerous)
More on Oak Grove:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Oak Grove, KY

For 2022, Mayfield ranks as the third most dangerous city in Kentucky -- let's see why.

Though Mayfield is home to Cartwright Grove, a re-creation of an old west town in the 1880s, you might feel like you really are in the Wild West while in this city. A community of 9,791, Mayfield is certainly rough around the edges.

You do not want to mess with the outlaws here, and we are not talking about the ones in Cartwright Grove. The area ranks 50th highest in the state for murder and ninth highest for rape.

As shocking as those standings are, it is easy to see why some people in Mayfield are driven to other types of criminal activity. Not only is the city considered one of the worst places to live in Kentucky, a sizable portion of people there live in poverty.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 9,791
Rank Last Year: 1 (Down 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 377 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,748 (Eighth most dangerous)
More on Mayfield:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Mayfield, KY

It is a good thing that a stop along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is in Shively. Residents here might want a cocktail or two with booze from the Stitzel-Weller Distillery to help them forget that their city is highest in the state for murder.

The 30 aggravated assaults, 35 robberies, and 8 rapes reported in 2020 probably do not make anyone here feel much better about their personal safety either. Let's just hope no one drowns their sorrows too much. You need to stay alert if you are going to thrive in this town.

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 15,735
Rank Last Year: 8 (Up 4)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 495 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,234 (Tenth most dangerous)
More on Shively:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Shively, KY

When William Clark, of Lewis and Clark, founded Paducah in 1827, it is safe to assume he had grand plans for it. The area being named one of the most dangerous cities in Kentucky, was not likely one of them.

The people of Paducah can thank their community's modern-day criminals for that. In fact, contempt for the law is so bad here compared to the rest of the state that the city ranks sixth highest for total crime. A status the 993 property crimes that took place in 2020 certainly had a role in achieving.

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 24,850
Rank Last Year: 6 (Up 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 342 (Eighth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,995 (Sixth most dangerous)
More on Paducah:  | Cost Of Living

Paducah, KY

Newport sits just across the Ohio river from Cincinnati. A 10-minute drive will take you into the center of pride of southern Ohio. Thus, while it technically sits in a different state, Newport acts as a kind of suburb to a major urban area.

With this context, the high crime rate in Newport doesn't come as a surprise. This includes a major problem with violent crime. In a community of just 14,874 people, Newport suffered 12 sexual assaults. The town also has the number 1 highest pace of arsons.

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 14,874
Rank Last Year: 17 (Up 11)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 349 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,052 (16th most dangerous)
More on Newport:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Newport, KY

Source: Public domain

Do love banjo music? Want to kick up your boot heels to a rollicking fiddle solo? Well, then, you should consider planning a trip to Owensboro, home of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. If you need extra incentive, the town along the Ohio River in the western part of Kentucky also bills itself as the "Barbecue Capital of the World," with an annual food festival to prove it.

However, stay vigilant while you're tapping your toes and munching your ribs. Owensboro has its dark side as well. It ranks as the number 7 most dangerous community in Kentucky. This stems from a high rate of property crime, including 284 car thefts and 1,638 larcenies.

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 60,430
Rank Last Year: 16 (Up 9)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 266 (15th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,849 (Seventh most dangerous)
More on Owensboro:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Owensboro, KY

Source: Public domain

You'll find a bunch of the cities on this list built along the Ohio River. What is it about these river banks that encourages crime? Maybe a bit of that old riverboat mentality held over from the days of steam engines and traveling con men.

Whatever the case, Maysville falls into this category as well. Across the river from Ohio, in the northeastern part of the state, the town of 8,695 people counts as the number 8 most dangerous spot in Kentucky. Property crime is rampant in the area. Residents reported 59 burglaries and 8 robberies last year.

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 8,695
Rank Last Year: 24 (Up 16)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 299 (11th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,197 (13th most dangerous)
More on Maysville:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Maysville, KY

A few miles east of Lexington, sits Winchester. Before you hit the hay in this city, you better hide your jewelry, cash, and any other hot-ticket goods you have around the house. Crooks here had a knack for breaking and entering in 2020, committing 106 burglaries that year.

Do not assume your personal belongings are any safer by your side either. The area's residents and visitors faced 8 incidents of robbery as well. That may not seem like a lot, but we bet you would not want to be in the shoes of those victims.

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 18,570
Rank Last Year: 9 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 231 (19th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,254 (Fifth most dangerous)
More on Winchester:  | Cost Of Living

Winchester, KY

Source: Public domain

10. Middlesboro

Welcome to Middlesboro, one of the most dangerous places to live in Kentucky. Middlesboro is the kind of place people have been desperate to get away from for decades. And when your city makes this list, that is just one more reason to pack up your bags and move on to one of the state's more promising areas.

Residents who noticed the criminal activity occurring in 2020 may not be surprised by the city's ranking. While violence was not a major issue, the community was not immune to it either. Reports of 13 aggravated assaults and 9 rapes contributed to the area's 29 violent crimes. People here might take that as a sign that it is better to ditch Middlesboro sooner rather than later.

Population: 8,968
Rank Last Year: 10 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 323 (Ninth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,044 (19th most dangerous)
More on Middlesboro:

Middlesboro, KY

Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in Kentucky for 2022?

Every year the FBI release two crime datasets, a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in the country, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.

For our analysis, we focused on the JUST released 2020 data, specifically the 2020 Crime In The United States Report. We will update the results when data becomes available in September 2022.

So what criteria did we use? Have a look:

  • Violent Crimes Per Capita
  • Property Crimes Per Capita

In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Kentucky cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 74 cities in Kentucky.

We then ranked each city from 1 to 74 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.

Next, we averaged the two rankings into one "Dangerous Index".

Finally, we ranked every city on the "Dangerous Index" with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Kentucky -- Bowling Green. Any ties went to the smaller city. You can download the data here.

Most Dangerous Places To Live In Kentucky FAQs

Is Kentucky a dangerous state?

No, Kentucky is not a dangerous state as it ranks as the #11 safest state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in kentucky ranks 40th highest in the United States -- 33.19% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Bluegrass State ranks 3highest in the United States -- 9.13% better than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020.

Is Lexington, KY a dangerous city?

No, Lexington is not a dangerous city. Lexington ranks as the #179 safest out of 320 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Lexington might be considered safe you still need to be aware of where you are.

Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Lexington ranks 218th highest in America -- 41.69% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 123rd highest in the United States -- 8.13% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020 and that no city in America is 'dangerous'. Despite the uptick in murders, it's nothing like you'd see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.

Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In Kentucky

Most Dangerous Cities In Kentucky Graph

Click To Enlarge

Summary: Locking It All Up In Kentucky

So what is the most dangerous city in Kentucky? After analyzing 74 cities in Kentucky, Bowling Green takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Kentucky based on the most recently reported FBI data -- 2020.

The latest FBI crime data shows that Bowling Green ranks as the most dangerous city in Kentucky for 2022.

We want to point out again that there's still safes places in Bowling Green and that this isn't a comment on the people that live there. So please don't beat us up.

If you guessed that most of Kentucky's problems are centered around many of the state's biggest cities, you guessed right. Cheaper rent and the promise of better jobs with higher wages is usually the draw, but not always the outcome. Surprisingly, however, the state's most dangerous city is not one of the state's most populated.

What's the most dangerous place in Kentucky? That would be, Bowling Green.

If you want to know where the rest of Kentucky's most dangerous cities are located, take a look below. And if you don't find what you're looking for there, head to the bottom.

Learn more about the safest places in Kentucky.

If you're looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.

Here are the safest cities in Kentucky:

  1. Fort Mitchell (Pop. 8,249)
  2. Independence (Pop. 28,957)
  3. Flatwoods (Pop. 7,041)
  4. Lawrenceburg (Pop. 11,565)
  5. Villa Hills (Pop. 7,478)
  6. Lakeside Park-Crestview Hills (Pop. 6,134)
  7. Fort Thomas (Pop. 16,273)
  8. Wilmore (Pop. 6,496)
  9. Edgewood (Pop. 8,776)
  10. Taylor Mill (Pop. 6,819)

For more Kentucky reading, check out:

Crime By City In Kentucky

Rank City Population Violent Crimes Per Capita Property Crimes Per Capita
1 Bowling Green 71,861 343 4,446
2 Oak Grove 7,299 575 3,219
3 Mayfield 9,791 377 3,748
4 Shively 15,735 495 3,234
5 Paducah 24,850 342 3,995
6 Newport 14,874 349 3,052
7 Owensboro 60,430 266 3,849
8 Maysville 8,695 299 3,197
9 Winchester 18,570 231 4,254
10 Middlesboro 8,968 323 3,044
11 Covington 40,324 381 2,601
12 Glasgow 14,537 288 3,047
13 Frankfort 27,803 248 3,075
14 Hopkinsville 30,532 291 3,045
15 Lexington 325,851 320 2,871
16 Mount Sterling 7,268 165 5,173
17 Ashland 19,979 205 3,213
18 Florence 33,397 164 4,674
19 Shepherdsville 12,567 246 3,015
20 Henderson 28,126 291 2,620
21 Nicholasville 31,191 214 2,731
22 Cynthiana 6,329 347 1,927
23 Pikeville 6,501 230 2,722
24 St. Matthews 18,162 132 4,768
25 Franklin 9,072 209 2,722
26 Campbellsville 11,559 190 3,001
27 Russellville 7,125 154 3,143
28 Richmond 36,691 182 2,589
29 London 8,076 99 3,590
30 Radcliff 22,950 169 2,466
31 Georgetown 35,702 176 2,235
32 Somerset 11,622 180 2,176
33 Bardstown 13,330 195 2,018
34 Monticello 5,966 167 2,044
35 Princeton 6,091 164 2,216
36 Jeffersontown 27,700 104 2,548
37 La Grange 9,142 153 1,804
38 Paris 9,655 165 1,522
39 Corbin 7,190 111 1,961
40 Leitchfield 6,880 101 2,049
41 Murray 19,499 143 1,625
42 Middletown 7,910 63 2,528
43 Williamsburg 5,287 245 472
44 Morehead 7,644 130 1,596
45 Lebanon 5,726 139 1,432
46 Harrodsburg 8,553 105 1,484
47 Madisonville 18,494 145 1,065
48 Danville 16,826 95 1,687
49 Shelbyville 16,863 94 1,790
50 Dayton 5,639 141 1,099

How Is Your Town In ?

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our ninth time ranking the most dangerous places to live in Kentucky and is updated for 2022.

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.