Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Ashland, KY has a Safety Score of 24/100 — higher crime than 76% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,703.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,255 of 2,971 US cities and #31 of 41 in Kentucky.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Ashland, Kentucky Safe?
Ashland, a city in Boyd County, Kentucky, lies along the Ohio River. Once a major hub for the iron and steel industry, it now serves as a regional center for healthcare and education. The city is home to roughly 20,000 residents.
Ashland has a safety score of 24/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,703.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Ashland ranks #31 out of 41 cities in Kentucky and #2255 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 24th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 76% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Ashland is rape, at 71.4 per 100K — 1.6x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Ashland's total crime rate decreased by 11.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Ashland Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 42 | 199.9 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 15 | 71.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 19.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 23 | 109.5 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 526 | 2,503.5 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 60 | 285.6 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 421 | 2,003.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 45 | 214.2 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Ashland vs Kentucky Average
How does Ashland's crime rate compare to the Kentucky state average?
| Metric | Ashland | Kentucky Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 199.9 | 404.1 | -50.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,503.5 | 2,468.7 | +1.4% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 11.4 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,703.4 | 2,872.7 | -5.9% |
Ashland Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Ashland, Kentucky.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 21,011 | 2,703.4 | 199.9 | 2,503.5 |
| 2023 | 21,220 | 3,067.9 | 197.9 | 2,869.9 |
| 2022 | 21,300 | 2,680.8 | 187.8 | 2,493.0 |
| 2021 | 19,913 | 3,123.6 | 195.9 | 2,927.7 |
| 2020 | 19,979 | 3,463.6 | 225.2 | 3,238.4 |
| 2019 | 20,222 | 3,951.1 | 291.8 | 3,659.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ashland, Kentucky safe?
Ashland has a safety score of 24/100, meaning it has less crime than about 24% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,703.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Ashland is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Ashland, Kentucky?
According to FBI data for 2024, Ashland has a violent crime rate of 199.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,503.5 per 100,000 residents.
How does Ashland compare to the national average?
Ashland's total crime rate of 2,703.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 21,011 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Ashland?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Ashland include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Ashland safe to visit?
Like any city, Ashland has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 24/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.