Is Lexington or Owensboro Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Lexington is safer than Owensboro (Safety Score 28/100 vs 16/100), with a total crime rate of 2,536 per 100,000 versus 3,266 for Owensboro — 22% lower. Lexington has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Owensboro has a 66% lower rate.
Note: Lexington is 5.4x 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
Owensboro — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Lexington, KY
Owensboro, KY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Lexington | Owensboro | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,536.4 | 3,266.4 | -730.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 262.0 | 349.4 | -87.4 |
| Murder Rate | 5.0 | 1.7 | +3.3 |
| Rape Rate | 51.7 | 78.2 | -26.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 79.5 | 44.9 | +34.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 125.9 | 224.6 | -98.7 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,274.4 | 2,917.0 | -642.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 264.8 | 337.8 | -73.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,728.4 | 2,258.1 | -529.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 281.2 | 321.2 | -40.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lexington or Owensboro safer?
Lexington is safer with a total crime rate of 2,536 per 100K vs 3,266 for Owensboro — a 22% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Lexington has a violent crime rate of 262.0 per 100K while Owensboro has 349.4. Lexington has lower violent crime.
About Lexington, KY
About Owensboro, KY
Owensboro, Kentucky, known for its International Bluegrass Music Museum, sits on the Ohio River. This Daviess County seat is the fourth-largest city by population in the state. With a safety score of 16/100 and a population coverage of 60,096, Owensboro has a total crime rate of 3,266.4 per 100,000 residents.