Is Lexington or New York City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Lexington is safer than New York City (Safety Score 28/100 vs 19/100), with a total crime rate of 2,536 per 100,000 versus 3,040 for New York City — 17% lower. Lexington has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Lexington has a 61% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 25.7x 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 SAFER than Lexington, KY?
Lexington — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
New York City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Lexington, KY
New York City, NY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Lexington | New York City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,536.4 | 3,039.7 | -503.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 262.0 | 671.4 | -409.4 |
| Murder Rate | 5.0 | 3.9 | +1.0 |
| Rape Rate | 51.7 | 23.4 | +28.3 |
| Robbery Rate | 79.5 | 187.5 | -108.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 125.9 | 456.2 | -330.3 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,274.4 | 2,368.3 | -93.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 264.8 | 154.7 | +110.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,728.4 | 2,015.0 | -286.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 281.2 | 198.5 | +82.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lexington or New York City safer?
Lexington is safer with a total crime rate of 2,536 per 100K vs 3,040 for New York City — a 17% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Lexington has a violent crime rate of 262.0 per 100K while New York City has 671.4. Lexington has lower violent crime.
About Lexington, KY
About New York City, NY
New York City, a global financial hub, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River. Home to the iconic Statue of Liberty, its five boroughs house over 8 million people, making it the most populous city in the United States. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 8,299,271, New York City has a total crime rate of 3,039.7 per 100,000 residents.