Is Bowling Green or Shelbyville Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Shelbyville is safer than Bowling Green (Safety Score 69/100 vs 17/100), with a total crime rate of 1,141 per 100,000 versus 3,153 for Bowling Green — 64% lower. Bowling Green has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Shelbyville has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Bowling Green is 4.3x 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
Shelbyville — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Bowling Green, KY
Shelbyville, KY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Bowling Green | Shelbyville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,153.4 | 1,141.5 | +2,011.9 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 224.5 | 133.6 | +90.9 |
| Murder Rate | 1.3 | 0.0 | +1.3 |
| Rape Rate | 89.0 | 33.4 | +55.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 46.5 | 5.6 | +40.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 87.7 | 94.7 | -6.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,928.9 | 1,007.9 | +1,921.1 |
| Burglary Rate | 340.6 | 128.1 | +212.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,322.5 | 746.1 | +1,576.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 265.8 | 133.6 | +132.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bowling Green or Shelbyville safer?
Shelbyville is safer with a total crime rate of 1,141 per 100K vs 3,153 for Bowling Green — a 64% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Bowling Green has a violent crime rate of 224.5 per 100K while Shelbyville has 133.6. Shelbyville 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 Shelbyville, KY
Shelbyville, seat of Shelby County, is a Kentucky Bourbon Trail stop nestled in the heart of the Bluegrass region. This town, known as the "Saddlebred Capital of the World," boasts a population of around 17,000 residents. With a safety score of 69/100 and a population coverage of 17,959, Shelbyville has a total crime rate of 1,141.5 per 100,000 residents.