Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Owensboro, KY has a Safety Score of 15/100 — higher crime than 85% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,266.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,514 of 2,971 US cities and #36 of 41 in Kentucky.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Owensboro, Kentucky Safe?
Owensboro, Kentucky, known for its International Bluegrass Music Museum, sits on the Ohio River. This Daviess County seat is the fourth-largest city by population in the state.
Owensboro has a safety score of 15/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,266.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Owensboro ranks #36 out of 41 cities in Kentucky and #2514 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 15th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 85% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Owensboro is rape, at 78.2 per 100K — 1.8x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.3x the national rate.
Year over year, Owensboro's total crime rate decreased by 8.1%, with violent crime rising 12%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Owensboro Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 210 | 349.4 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 1.7 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 47 | 78.2 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 27 | 44.9 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 135 | 224.6 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,753 | 2,917.0 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 203 | 337.8 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,357 | 2,258.1 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 193 | 321.2 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Owensboro vs Kentucky Average
How does Owensboro's crime rate compare to the Kentucky state average?
| Metric | Owensboro | Kentucky Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 349.4 | 404.1 | -13.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,917.0 | 2,468.7 | +18.2% |
| Murder Rate | 1.7 | 11.4 | -85.4% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,266.4 | 2,872.7 | +13.7% |
Owensboro Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Owensboro, Kentucky.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 60,096 | 3,266.4 | 349.4 | 2,917.0 |
| 2023 | 59,937 | 3,553.7 | 312.0 | 3,241.7 |
| 2022 | 59,839 | 3,920.5 | 384.4 | 3,536.2 |
| 2021 | 60,636 | 3,996.0 | 244.1 | 3,751.9 |
| 2020 | 60,430 | 4,044.4 | 273.0 | 3,771.3 |
| 2019 | 60,107 | 4,270.7 | 224.6 | 4,046.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Owensboro, Kentucky safe?
Owensboro has a safety score of 15/100, meaning it has less crime than about 15% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,266.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Owensboro is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Owensboro, Kentucky?
According to FBI data for 2024, Owensboro has a violent crime rate of 349.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,917.0 per 100,000 residents.
How does Owensboro compare to the national average?
Owensboro's total crime rate of 3,266.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 60,096 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Owensboro?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Owensboro include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Owensboro safe to visit?
Like any city, Owensboro has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 15/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.