Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Bardstown, KY has a Safety Score of 54/100 — safer than 54% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,559.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,353 of 2,971 US cities and #20 of 41 in Kentucky.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Bardstown, Kentucky Safe?
Bardstown, Kentucky, "Most Beautiful Small Town in America," is home to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. This town of roughly 13,000 residents is located in Nelson County, part of the Louisville/Jefferson County metro area.
Bardstown has a safety score of 54/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,559.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Bardstown ranks #20 out of 41 cities in Kentucky and #1353 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 54th percentile for safety — safer than 54% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Bardstown are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Bardstown's total crime rate decreased by 34.7%, with violent crime rising 42.8%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Bardstown Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 23 | 165.3 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 4 | 28.7 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 7 | 50.3 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 12 | 86.2 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 194 | 1,394.0 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 27 | 194.0 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 143 | 1,027.5 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 24 | 172.5 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Bardstown vs Kentucky Average
How does Bardstown's crime rate compare to the Kentucky state average?
| Metric | Bardstown | Kentucky Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 165.3 | 404.1 | -59.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,394.0 | 2,468.7 | -43.5% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 11.4 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,559.2 | 2,872.7 | -45.7% |
Bardstown Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Bardstown, Kentucky.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13,917 | 1,559.2 | 165.3 | 1,394.0 |
| 2023 | 13,820 | 2,387.8 | 115.8 | 2,272.1 |
| 2022 | 13,712 | 1,845.1 | 138.6 | 1,706.5 |
| 2021 | 13,378 | 2,556.4 | 119.6 | 2,436.8 |
| 2020 | 13,330 | 2,235.6 | 210.1 | 2,025.5 |
| 2019 | 13,239 | 2,741.9 | 113.3 | 2,628.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bardstown, Kentucky safe?
Bardstown has a safety score of 54/100, meaning it has less crime than about 54% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,559.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Bardstown is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Bardstown, Kentucky?
According to FBI data for 2024, Bardstown has a violent crime rate of 165.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,394.0 per 100,000 residents.
How does Bardstown compare to the national average?
Bardstown's total crime rate of 1,559.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 13,917 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Bardstown?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Bardstown include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Bardstown safe to visit?
Like any city, Bardstown has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 54/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.