Is Owensboro or Phoenix Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Phoenix is safer than Owensboro (Safety Score 17/100 vs 15/100), with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100,000 versus 3,266 for Owensboro — 4% lower. Owensboro has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Owensboro has a 80% lower rate.
Note: Phoenix is 27.7x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Owensboro — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Phoenix — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Owensboro, KY
Phoenix, AZ
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Owensboro | Phoenix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,266.4 | 3,125.4 | +141.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 349.4 | 800.0 | -450.6 |
| Murder Rate | 1.7 | 8.4 | -6.7 |
| Rape Rate | 78.2 | 64.3 | +13.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 44.9 | 181.6 | -136.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 224.6 | 545.3 | -320.7 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,917.0 | 2,325.3 | +591.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 337.8 | 317.2 | +20.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,258.1 | 1,582.1 | +675.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 321.2 | 426.0 | -104.9 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Owensboro or Phoenix safer?
Phoenix is safer with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100K vs 3,266 for Owensboro — a 4% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Owensboro has a violent crime rate of 349.4 per 100K while Phoenix has 800.0. Owensboro has lower violent crime.
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.
About Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix, Arizona, the "Valley of the Sun," is a sprawling desert metropolis with a rich Native American heritage, including the Hohokam people. It's the fifth-largest city in the United States by population, experiencing rapid growth in recent decades. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 1,662,809, Phoenix has a total crime rate of 3,125.4 per 100,000 residents.