Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Lexington, KY has a Safety Score of 28/100 — higher crime than 72% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,536.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,133 of 2,957 US cities and #30 of 42 in Kentucky.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Lexington, KY?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Lexington, Kentucky Safe?
Lexington has a safety score of 28/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,536.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Lexington ranks #30 out of 42 cities in Kentucky and #2133 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 28th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 72% of US cities.
Year over year, Lexington's total crime rate decreased by 15.6%, with violent crime rising 3.3%.
Lexington Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 847 | 262.0 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 16 | 5.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 167 | 51.7 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 257 | 79.5 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 407 | 125.9 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 7,352 | 2,274.4 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 856 | 264.8 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 5,587 | 1,728.4 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 909 | 281.2 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Lexington vs Kentucky Average
How does Lexington's crime rate compare to the Kentucky state average?
| Metric | Lexington | Kentucky Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 262.0 | 380.4 | -31.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,274.4 | 2,436.4 | -6.6% |
| Murder Rate | 5.0 | 10.3 | -51.9% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,536.4 | 2,816.8 | -10.0% |
Lexington Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Lexington, Kentucky.
Between 2019 and 2024, Lexington's total crime rate is down 23% (3,295 → 2,536 per 100,000). Violent crime is down 12% and property crime down 24% over the same period.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 323,254 | 2,536.4 | 262.0 | 2,274.4 |
| 2023 | 319,994 | 3,004.7 | 253.8 | 2,751.0 |
| 2022 | 320,983 | 3,022.6 | 274.8 | 2,747.8 |
| 2021 | 328,965 | 3,045.6 | 300.0 | 2,745.6 |
| 2020 | 325,851 | 3,224.5 | 327.8 | 2,896.7 |
| 2019 | 326,070 | 3,294.7 | 296.6 | 2,998.1 |
Lexington Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Lexington and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Kentucky crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lexington, Kentucky safe?
Lexington has a safety score of 28/100, meaning it has less crime than about 28% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,536.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Lexington is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Lexington, Kentucky?
According to FBI data for 2024, Lexington has a violent crime rate of 262.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,274.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Lexington compare to the national average?
Lexington's total crime rate of 2,536.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 323,254 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Lexington?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Lexington are larceny-theft (5,587 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (909 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 8.7x in the city.
How many murders were reported in Lexington in 2024?
16 murders were reported to the FBI for Lexington in 2024 — a homicide rate of 5.0 per 100,000 residents.
Is crime in Lexington going up or down?
Lexington's total crime rate is falling: 23% lower in 2024 than in 2019 (2,536 vs 3,295 per 100,000, FBI data).
Is Lexington safe to visit?
Like any city, Lexington has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 28/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.