Is Covington or Lexington Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Covington is safer than Lexington (Safety Score 43/100 vs 28/100), with a total crime rate of 1,923 per 100,000 versus 2,536 for Lexington — 24% lower. Covington has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in property crime, where Covington has a 28% lower rate.
Note: Lexington is 7.9x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Covington, KY?
Covington — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Lexington — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Covington, KY
Lexington, KY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Covington | Lexington | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,922.7 | 2,536.4 | -613.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 287.9 | 262.0 | +25.9 |
| Murder Rate | 4.9 | 5.0 | -0.1 |
| Rape Rate | 65.9 | 51.7 | +14.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 75.6 | 79.5 | -3.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 141.5 | 125.9 | +15.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,634.8 | 2,274.4 | -639.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 207.4 | 264.8 | -57.4 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,085.8 | 1,728.4 | -642.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 341.6 | 281.2 | +60.4 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Covington or Lexington safer?
Covington is safer with a total crime rate of 1,923 per 100K vs 2,536 for Lexington — a 24% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Covington has a violent crime rate of 287.9 per 100K while Lexington has 262.0. Lexington has lower violent crime.
About Covington, KY
Covington, Kentucky, part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area, sits at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking Rivers. Known for its historic German immigrant architecture, the city is Kentucky's largest river city by population. With a safety score of 43/100 and a population coverage of 40,984, Covington has a total crime rate of 1,922.7 per 100,000 residents.