Is Bowling Green or Santa Cruz Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Santa Cruz is safer than Bowling Green (Safety Score 17/100 vs 17/100), with a total crime rate of 3,128 per 100,000 versus 3,153 for Bowling Green — 1% lower. Bowling Green has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Bowling Green has a 74% lower rate.
Bowling Green — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Santa Cruz — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Bowling Green, KY
Santa Cruz, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Bowling Green | Santa Cruz | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,153.4 | 3,128.2 | +25.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 224.5 | 612.9 | -388.4 |
| Murder Rate | 1.3 | 4.9 | -3.6 |
| Rape Rate | 89.0 | 42.4 | +46.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 46.5 | 102.7 | -56.3 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 87.7 | 463.0 | -375.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,928.9 | 2,515.2 | +413.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 340.6 | 135.3 | +205.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,322.5 | 2,221.8 | +100.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 265.8 | 158.1 | +107.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bowling Green or Santa Cruz safer?
Santa Cruz is safer with a total crime rate of 3,128 per 100K vs 3,153 for Bowling Green — a 1% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Bowling Green has a violent crime rate of 224.5 per 100K while Santa Cruz has 612.9. Bowling Green 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 Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz, California, a coastal city known for its historic Beach Boardwalk, sits on Monterey Bay. It's home to a significant student population, including the University of California, Santa Cruz. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 61,346, Santa Cruz has a total crime rate of 3,128.2 per 100,000 residents.