Is Austin or Paducah Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Paducah is safer than Austin (Safety Score 19/100 vs 11/100), with a total crime rate of 3,065 per 100,000 versus 3,709 for Austin — 17% lower. Austin has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Paducah has a 52% lower rate.
Note: Austin is 37.0x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Austin — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Paducah — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Austin, TX
Paducah, KY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Austin | Paducah | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,709.4 | 3,064.9 | +644.5 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 467.5 | 270.4 | +197.1 |
| Murder Rate | 6.6 | 3.8 | +2.8 |
| Rape Rate | 67.6 | 71.4 | -3.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 85.4 | 41.3 | +44.1 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 307.2 | 154.0 | +153.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,241.9 | 2,794.5 | +447.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 445.2 | 232.9 | +212.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,198.1 | 2,249.9 | -51.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 598.6 | 311.8 | +286.9 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Austin or Paducah safer?
Paducah is safer with a total crime rate of 3,065 per 100K vs 3,709 for Austin — a 17% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Austin has a violent crime rate of 467.5 per 100K while Paducah has 270.4. Paducah has lower violent crime.
About Austin, TX
Austin, the "Live Music Capital of the World," is a rapidly growing city in Central Texas. Situated on the Colorado River, it's the state capital and home to a diverse population, including many young professionals drawn to its tech industry. With a safety score of 11/100 and a population coverage of 984,613, Austin has a total crime rate of 3,709.4 per 100,000 residents.
About Paducah, KY
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. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 26,624, Paducah has a total crime rate of 3,064.9 per 100,000 residents.