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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Louisville Metro, KY has a Safety Score of 8/100 — higher crime than 92% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,034.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,712 of 2,957 US cities and #40 of 42 in Kentucky.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Louisville Metro, KY?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Louisville Metro, Kentucky Safe?
Louisville Metro, Kentucky, home of the Kentucky Derby, sprawls along the Ohio River. This consolidated city-county is Kentucky's most populous, with a diverse urban and suburban landscape.
Louisville Metro has a safety score of 8/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,034.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Louisville Metro ranks #40 out of 42 cities in Kentucky and #2712 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 8th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 92% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Louisville Metro is murder, at 21.7 per 100K — 3.4x the national average. Conversely, rape is relatively low at just 0.7x the national rate.
Year over year, Louisville Metro's total crime rate decreased by 8%, with violent crime declining 7.5%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Louisville Metro Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 4,796 | 708.6 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 147 | 21.7 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 208 | 30.7 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 868 | 128.2 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 3,565 | 526.7 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 22,513 | 3,326.2 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 3,084 | 455.6 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 14,123 | 2,086.6 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5,306 | 783.9 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Louisville Metro vs Kentucky Average
How does Louisville Metro's crime rate compare to the Kentucky state average?
| Metric | Louisville Metro | Kentucky Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 708.6 | 380.4 | +86.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,326.2 | 2,436.4 | +36.5% |
| Murder Rate | 21.7 | 10.3 | +110.9% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,034.8 | 2,816.8 | +43.2% |
Louisville Metro Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Louisville Metro, Kentucky.
Between 2019 and 2024, Louisville Metro's total crime rate is down 12% (4,579 → 4,035 per 100,000). Violent crime is up 3% and property crime down 15% over the same period; the worst year in this window was 2020 at 4,708 per 100,000.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 676,843 | 4,034.8 | 708.6 | 3,326.2 |
| 2023 | 669,468 | 4,386.2 | 766.3 | 3,619.9 |
| 2022 | 677,554 | 3,629.8 | 696.3 | 2,933.5 |
| 2021 | 678,236 | 4,323.7 | 986.1 | 3,337.6 |
| 2020 | 673,730 | 4,707.5 | 945.3 | 3,762.2 |
| 2019 | 675,501 | 4,578.5 | 687.1 | 3,891.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Louisville Metro, Kentucky safe?
Louisville Metro has a safety score of 8/100, meaning it has less crime than about 8% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,034.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Louisville Metro is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Louisville Metro, Kentucky?
According to FBI data for 2024, Louisville Metro has a violent crime rate of 708.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,326.2 per 100,000 residents.
How does Louisville Metro compare to the national average?
Louisville Metro's total crime rate of 4,034.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 676,843 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Louisville Metro?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Louisville Metro are larceny-theft (14,123 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (5,306 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 4.7x in the city.
How many murders were reported in Louisville Metro in 2024?
147 murders were reported to the FBI for Louisville Metro in 2024 — a homicide rate of 21.7 per 100,000 residents.
Is crime in Louisville Metro going up or down?
Louisville Metro's total crime rate is falling: 12% lower in 2024 than in 2019 (4,035 vs 4,579 per 100,000, FBI data).
Is Louisville Metro safe to visit?
Like any city, Louisville Metro has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 8/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.