If you are considering where to put down roots, raise a family, or retire in the Bluegrass State, it’s only natural that you’d want to be armed with all the information possible, including the most dangerous towns in Kentucky. So, we sifted through FBI stats from the most recent year recorded, and the crimes considered to create their list included things like robbery, rape, arson, murder, property crime, larceny, all violent crimes, and auto theft. These results were then put against factors such as economics and population, to determine some of the most dangerous towns in Kentucky:

Louisville
Louisville, KY, USA
Scott Elliott/Flickr
This should come as no big surprise considering Louisville led the U.S. in murder the first part of 2015. While crime rates remain relatively proportionate to its size, we still love Louisville, and think it's a place every Kentuckian ought to visit!
Georgetown
Georgetown, KY 40324, USA
Flonight/Wikimedia Commons
While its Main Street around the holidays has earned Georgetown major acclaim, this bustling Kentucky city has under 35,000 people, and averages around 23 victims for every 1,000 residents. That's a pretty high rate of crime considering the population, but in good news, only a small percentage of crimes in Georgetown, a suburb of Lexington, are violent.
Newport
Newport, KY 41071, USA
Censusdata/Wikimedia Commons
A gangster mecca way back when; today, Newport is an urban, riverfront town in Kentucky that is filled with history. While its overall crime ranking isn't the greatest, with so much development and restoration happening here, it is still a great place to visit.
Shively
Shively, KY, USA
Louisville VA
A popular point along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the town of Shively is a suburb of Louisville and unfortunately sees its fair share of violent crime. Ranked the highest in Kentucky for murder, Shively is a place addled with both violent and property crime.
Frankfort
Frankfort, KY 40601, USA
Wikimedia Commons
Our state's capital city is home to much history and is also in the heart of the Bourbon Trail. But it has seen an increase in both violent and property crimes.

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Hopkinsville
Hopkinsville, KY, USA
PBS
This looks like a peaceful place to live -- and it can be, if you're careful. Hopkinsville is a medium-sized city located in the state of Kentucky. With a population of 31,180 people and 11 constituent neighborhoods, Hopkinsville is the ninth largest community in Kentucky, and its size means that it definitely sees its (more than) fair share of crime, unfortunately.
Lexington
Lexington, KY, USA
Wikimedia Commons
The Wildcat capital made the list of the most dangerous cities. It's not a huge surprise, given its size, and, just like with any larger city, it's helpful to pay attention to your surroundings when visiting lovely Lexington, Kentucky.
Versailles
Versailles, KY 40383, USA
Brent Moore/Flickr
Though this is a smaller town, with under 9000 residents, the crime rate is through the roof, with only 31 violent crimes. However, there were 83 crimes reported via every 1000 citizens. Other than that, Versailles is a beautiful place to call home, and one of our favorite places to visit in the Bluegrass.
Bowling Green
Bowling Green, KY, USA
Wikimedia Commons
Though it's home to one of the most charming downtowns in Kentucky, Bowling Green is a larger city in the Bluegrass, so it makes sense that it would see more crime. ou 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.
Somerset
Somerset, KY, USA
David Morris
When visiting Somerset, this might look like another small, traditional Bluegrass town, and it is, mostly. However, Somerset also experiences 23 crimes per 1,000 residents, which, in a city of under 12,000, is significant.

Please don’t take things personally if you happen to live in one of these cities. This was not written to say, “run away screaming from these cities.”  However, if you are looking for somewhere with a lower rate of crime in Kentucky, you should likely consider some of the other beautiful towns we have to offer. This was based on the FBI list and ONLY on crimes reported. We all know, many crimes don’t get reported. If you know of any other potentially dangerous towns in Kentucky you’d like to comment on, please share them below.

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More to Explore

Dangerous towns in Kentucky

Sarah M. | June 04, 2022

What are some other dangerous places in Kentucky?

In addition to the above dangerous towns in Kentucky, some of our most treasured natural wonders have proven to be quite dangerous. Red River Gorge, for example, has seen its fair share of tragedies over the years, as have our numerous rivers and lakes. We are all familiar with some of the tragic accidents that have taken place on the Ohio over the years. This rolling river bordering Kentucky with several neighboring states can be quite the tyrant when boiling over her banks in flood season. Unexpected currents and debris can make boating, or even fishing a bit hazardous. Several deaths have been attributed to unpredictable Ohio currents, as well as other Kentucky rivers, over the years. The Mississippi, Kentucky, and Big Sandy Rivers can be equally dangerous, but all offer a special kind of serenity during the right season and fishing is grand. The dangers extend below ground, too: one of the most beautiful places in the Bluegrass State -- and country! -- is also one of the most dangerous. Mammoth Cave is one of the Natural Wonders of the U.S., drawing countless tourists and locals to tour the area. Many people have lost their lives in this underground labyrinth over the years, and accidents still happen. With more cave tunnels being discovered all the time, there are still unexplored areas in the cave that can be very dangerous -- and even guided tours are not without risk. Some of the areas have slick surfaces, and falls along some of the steep climbs can be treacherous. Cave ins are not likely, but they are possible as well.

What are the safest towns to live in Kentucky?

Don't let the above stats for the most dangerous towns in Kentucky deter you from embracing life in the Bluegrass State; ours truly is a wonderful *and* safe place to live. Not only is Kentucky incredibly beautiful, but it’s also full of the friendliest folks and most winsome towns. Kentucky is a great place to raise a family or retire — and everything in between! Some of the safest towns to live in Kentucky include places like Providence, West Liberty, Hartford, Williamstown, Independence, and Fort Thomas. Fort Thomas is a total hidden gem, but over the past few years, people have been flocking to Fort Thomas en masse, as word's gotten out about this wonderful Kentucky town! Not only does Fort Thomas boast low unemployment rates and a low cost of living, but crime rates here are also some of the lowest in the state, especially when compared to cities of similar size.

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