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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Paducah, KY has a Safety Score of 19/100 — higher crime than 81% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,064.9 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,421 of 2,971 US cities and #34 of 41 in Kentucky.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Paducah, Kentucky Safe?
Paducah, a UNESCO Creative City known for its vibrant arts, sits at the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. This McCracken County seat in Western Kentucky has a population of around 27,000.
Paducah has a safety score of 19/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,064.9 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Paducah ranks #34 out of 41 cities in Kentucky and #2421 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 19th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 81% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Paducah is rape, at 71.4 per 100K — 1.6x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.4x the national rate.
Year over year, Paducah's total crime rate decreased by 4.8%, with violent crime declining 18.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Paducah Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 72 | 270.4 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 3.8 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 19 | 71.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 11 | 41.3 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 41 | 154.0 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 744 | 2,794.5 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 62 | 232.9 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 599 | 2,249.9 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 83 | 311.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Paducah vs Kentucky Average
How does Paducah's crime rate compare to the Kentucky state average?
| Metric | Paducah | Kentucky Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 270.4 | 404.1 | -33.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,794.5 | 2,468.7 | +13.2% |
| Murder Rate | 3.8 | 11.4 | -66.9% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,064.9 | 2,872.7 | +6.7% |
Paducah Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Paducah, Kentucky.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 26,624 | 3,064.9 | 270.4 | 2,794.5 |
| 2023 | 26,692 | 3,218.2 | 333.4 | 2,884.8 |
| 2022 | 26,050 | 3,370.4 | 280.2 | 3,090.2 |
| 2021 | 24,873 | 3,566.1 | 329.7 | 3,236.4 |
| 2020 | 24,850 | 4,591.6 | 362.2 | 4,229.4 |
| 2019 | 24,832 | 5,541.2 | 285.9 | 5,255.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paducah, Kentucky safe?
Paducah has a safety score of 19/100, meaning it has less crime than about 19% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,064.9 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Paducah is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Paducah, Kentucky?
According to FBI data for 2024, Paducah has a violent crime rate of 270.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,794.5 per 100,000 residents.
How does Paducah compare to the national average?
Paducah's total crime rate of 3,064.9 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 26,624 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Paducah?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Paducah include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Paducah safe to visit?
Like any city, Paducah has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 19/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.