Is Bowling Green or Shively Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Bowling Green is safer than Shively (Safety Score 17/100 vs 12/100), with a total crime rate of 3,153 per 100,000 versus 3,592 for Shively — 12% lower. Bowling Green has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Bowling Green has a 90% lower rate.
Note: Bowling Green is 5.0x 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
Shively — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Bowling Green, KY
Shively, KY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Bowling Green | Shively | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,153.4 | 3,592.3 | -438.9 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 224.5 | 311.8 | -87.3 |
| Murder Rate | 1.3 | 13.0 | -11.7 |
| Rape Rate | 89.0 | 45.5 | +43.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 46.5 | 129.9 | -83.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 87.7 | 116.9 | -29.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,928.9 | 3,280.5 | -351.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 340.6 | 545.7 | -205.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,322.5 | 1,942.3 | +380.2 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 265.8 | 792.5 | -526.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bowling Green or Shively safer?
Bowling Green is safer with a total crime rate of 3,153 per 100K vs 3,592 for Shively — a 12% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Bowling Green has a violent crime rate of 224.5 per 100K while Shively has 311.8. 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 Shively, KY
Shively, once home to numerous distilleries, is a suburban city in Jefferson County, Kentucky, bordering Louisville. Its diverse population reflects a mix of working-class families and long-time residents. With a safety score of 12/100 and a population coverage of 15,394, Shively has a total crime rate of 3,592.3 per 100,000 residents.