Is Madisonville or Owensboro Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Madisonville is safer than Owensboro (Safety Score 86/100 vs 15/100), with a total crime rate of 689 per 100,000 versus 3,266 for Owensboro — 79% lower. Madisonville has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in property crime, where Madisonville has a 80% lower rate.
Note: Owensboro is 3.1x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Madisonville — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Owensboro — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Madisonville, KY
Owensboro, KY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Madisonville | Owensboro | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 689.3 | 3,266.4 | -2,577.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 98.5 | 349.4 | -251.0 |
| Murder Rate | 5.2 | 1.7 | +3.5 |
| Rape Rate | 20.7 | 78.2 | -57.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 10.4 | 44.9 | -34.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 51.8 | 224.6 | -172.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 590.9 | 2,917.0 | -2,326.1 |
| Burglary Rate | 119.2 | 337.8 | -218.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 388.7 | 2,258.1 | -1,869.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 82.9 | 321.2 | -238.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Madisonville or Owensboro safer?
Madisonville is safer with a total crime rate of 689 per 100K vs 3,266 for Owensboro — a 79% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Madisonville has a violent crime rate of 98.5 per 100K while Owensboro has 349.4. Madisonville has lower violent crime.
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.
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 15/100 and a population coverage of 60,096, Owensboro has a total crime rate of 3,266.4 per 100,000 residents.