Is Lexington or Murray Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Murray is safer than Lexington (Safety Score 56/100 vs 28/100), with a total crime rate of 1,528 per 100,000 versus 2,536 for Lexington — 40% lower. Lexington has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Murray has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Lexington is 17.8x 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 Lexington, KY?
Lexington — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Murray — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Lexington, KY
Murray, KY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Lexington | Murray | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,536.4 | 1,528.2 | +1,008.2 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 262.0 | 99.0 | +163.1 |
| Murder Rate | 5.0 | 0.0 | +5.0 |
| Rape Rate | 51.7 | 49.5 | +2.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 79.5 | 11.0 | +68.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 125.9 | 38.5 | +87.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,274.4 | 1,429.3 | +845.1 |
| Burglary Rate | 264.8 | 153.9 | +110.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,728.4 | 1,214.9 | +513.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 281.2 | 60.5 | +220.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lexington or Murray safer?
Murray is safer with a total crime rate of 1,528 per 100K vs 2,536 for Lexington — a 40% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Lexington has a violent crime rate of 262.0 per 100K while Murray has 99.0. Murray has lower violent crime.
About Lexington, KY
About Murray, KY
Murray, Kentucky, home to Murray State University, is a college town in Calloway County near the Tennessee border. The city's population is predominantly white, reflecting its rural Western Kentucky setting. With a safety score of 56/100 and a population coverage of 18,191, Murray has a total crime rate of 1,528.2 per 100,000 residents.