Is Cape Girardeau or Paducah Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Paducah is safer than Cape Girardeau (Safety Score 19/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 3,065 per 100,000 versus 3,080 for Cape Girardeau — 0% lower. Cape Girardeau has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Paducah has a 57% lower rate.
Cape Girardeau — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Paducah — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Cape Girardeau, MO
Paducah, KY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Cape Girardeau | Paducah | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,079.5 | 3,064.9 | +14.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 623.3 | 270.4 | +352.8 |
| Murder Rate | 7.4 | 3.8 | +3.6 |
| Rape Rate | 51.5 | 71.4 | -19.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 31.9 | 41.3 | -9.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 532.5 | 154.0 | +378.5 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,456.3 | 2,794.5 | -338.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 296.9 | 232.9 | +64.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,931.2 | 2,249.9 | -318.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 228.2 | 311.8 | -83.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cape Girardeau or Paducah safer?
Paducah is safer with a total crime rate of 3,065 per 100K vs 3,080 for Cape Girardeau — a 0% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Cape Girardeau has a violent crime rate of 623.3 per 100K while Paducah has 270.4. Paducah has lower violent crime.
About Cape Girardeau, MO
Cape Girardeau, Missouri, a city on the Mississippi River, is home to Southeast Missouri State University. Its historic downtown features a vibrant arts scene and overlooks the river, which forms the eastern border of Missouri. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 40,753, Cape Girardeau has a total crime rate of 3,079.5 per 100,000 residents.
About Paducah, KY
Paducah, a UNESCO Creative City known for its vibrant arts, sits at the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. This McCracken County seat in Western Kentucky has a population of around 27,000. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 26,624, Paducah has a total crime rate of 3,064.9 per 100,000 residents.