Is Bowling Green or Frankfort Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Frankfort is safer than Bowling Green (Safety Score 45/100 vs 17/100), with a total crime rate of 1,845 per 100,000 versus 3,153 for Bowling Green — 41% lower. Bowling Green has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Bowling Green has a 64% lower rate.
Note: Bowling Green is 2.8x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Bowling Green — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Frankfort — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Bowling Green, KY
Frankfort, KY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Bowling Green | Frankfort | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,153.4 | 1,845.5 | +1,308.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 224.5 | 202.3 | +22.2 |
| Murder Rate | 1.3 | 3.6 | -2.3 |
| Rape Rate | 89.0 | 67.4 | +21.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 46.5 | 28.4 | +18.1 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 87.7 | 102.9 | -15.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,928.9 | 1,643.2 | +1,285.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 340.6 | 273.3 | +67.4 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,322.5 | 1,188.9 | +1,133.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 265.8 | 181.0 | +84.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bowling Green or Frankfort safer?
Frankfort is safer with a total crime rate of 1,845 per 100K vs 3,153 for Bowling Green — a 41% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Bowling Green has a violent crime rate of 224.5 per 100K while Frankfort has 202.3. Frankfort has lower violent crime.
About Bowling Green, KY
Bowling Green, Kentucky, home to Western Kentucky University, sits on the Barren River. This city of over 70,000 residents is also home to the National Corvette Museum. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 77,503, Bowling Green has a total crime rate of 3,153.4 per 100,000 residents.
About Frankfort, KY
Frankfort, Kentucky, the state capital, sits along the Kentucky River in Franklin County. Home to the Kentucky State Penitentiary since 1800, it's a small city with a population around 28,000. With a safety score of 45/100 and a population coverage of 28,177, Frankfort has a total crime rate of 1,845.5 per 100,000 residents.