Is Bowling Green or Nicholasville Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Nicholasville is safer than Bowling Green (Safety Score 52/100 vs 17/100), with a total crime rate of 1,610 per 100,000 versus 3,153 for Bowling Green — 49% lower. Bowling Green has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Nicholasville has a 61% lower rate.
Note: Bowling Green is 2.4x 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
Nicholasville — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Bowling Green, KY
Nicholasville, KY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Bowling Green | Nicholasville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,153.4 | 1,609.6 | +1,543.9 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 224.5 | 112.6 | +111.9 |
| Murder Rate | 1.3 | 3.0 | -1.8 |
| Rape Rate | 89.0 | 18.3 | +70.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 46.5 | 18.3 | +28.2 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 87.7 | 73.0 | +14.7 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,928.9 | 1,497.0 | +1,431.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 340.6 | 206.9 | +133.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,322.5 | 1,217.1 | +1,105.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 265.8 | 73.0 | +192.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bowling Green or Nicholasville safer?
Nicholasville is safer with a total crime rate of 1,610 per 100K vs 3,153 for Bowling Green — a 49% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Bowling Green has a violent crime rate of 224.5 per 100K while Nicholasville has 112.6. Nicholasville 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 Nicholasville, KY
Nicholasville, Kentucky, the "Christmas City," sits south of Lexington in Jessamine County. This growing city of over 30,000 residents is known for its annual Christmas parade and its proximity to Kentucky's horse country. With a safety score of 52/100 and a population coverage of 32,866, Nicholasville has a total crime rate of 1,609.6 per 100,000 residents.