Is Houston or Madisonville Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Madisonville is safer than Houston (Safety Score 86/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 689 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston — 87% lower. Houston has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Madisonville has a 96% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 120.2x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Houston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Madisonville — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston, TX
Madisonville, KY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Houston | Madisonville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,441.7 | 689.3 | +4,752.4 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,148.3 | 98.5 | +1,049.8 |
| Murder Rate | 13.8 | 5.2 | +8.6 |
| Rape Rate | 73.0 | 20.7 | +52.3 |
| Robbery Rate | 274.0 | 10.4 | +263.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 787.4 | 51.8 | +735.5 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,293.5 | 590.9 | +3,702.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 644.8 | 119.2 | +525.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,945.7 | 388.7 | +2,557.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 703.0 | 82.9 | +620.1 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houston or Madisonville safer?
Madisonville is safer with a total crime rate of 689 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 87% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Houston has a violent crime rate of 1,148.3 per 100K while Madisonville has 98.5. Madisonville has lower violent crime.
About Houston, TX
Houston, the "Space City," is a sprawling metropolis in Southeast Texas, home to NASA's Johnson Space Center. Its diverse population makes it one of the most multicultural cities in the U.S., with significant Hispanic and Asian communities. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 2,319,160, Houston has a total crime rate of 5,441.7 per 100,000 residents.
About Madisonville, KY
Madisonville, Kentucky, the "Best Town on Earth," is the county seat of Hopkins County in Western Kentucky. Located along I-69, it's a small city with a population around 19,000, known for its coal mining history and as the birthplace of musicians like Merle Travis. With a safety score of 86/100 and a population coverage of 19,294, Madisonville has a total crime rate of 689.3 per 100,000 residents.