The 10 Safest Cities In Kentucky For 2024

The safest cities in Kentucky are Taylor Mill and Edgewood for 2024 using Saturday Night Science.

We don't need to place the superfecta bet. We already know that Kentucky has some super safe place to live.

Lexington has The Wildcat for protection and Louisville has the Bats, but what about the rest of the state? We created a list of the safest places in The Bluegrass State for 2024.

How did we do it? We consulted the numbers and analyzed 77 Kentucky cities. We looked at important factors like property and violent crimes per capita for every place with over 5,000 residents.

We discovered that Kentucky has some dangerous places, so before you throw a dart on the map of Kentucky to choose your next place to call home, we suggest you look at our list of safest places in Kentucky.

Furthermore, there is a safe place in Kentucky for every stage of life. Bowling Green is safe for singles, Richmond is safe for families, and for those looking to retire, there's Fort Thomas.

Want to know more? Take a look below at the top ten safest places in Kentucky.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table

Here are the 10 safest cities to live in Kentucky for 2024:

  1. Taylor Mill (Homes For Sale)
  2. Edgewood (Homes For Sale)
  3. Erlanger (Homes For Sale)
  4. Fort Thomas (Homes For Sale)
  5. Vine Grove (Homes For Sale)
  6. Independence (Homes For Sale)
  7. Mount Washington (Homes For Sale)
  8. Villa Hills (Homes For Sale)
  9. Flatwoods (Homes For Sale)
  10. Wilmore (Homes For Sale)
Safest Cities In Kentucky Map

It doesn't matter if you're a betting person or not; the number one safest place in Kentucky won fair and square.

Many of the Bluegrass State's top ten safest places boast safe neighborhoods, safe schools, and good jobs. Any one of these Kentucky places would be a great place to enjoy life safely.

What's the safest place to live in Kentucky? The safest place in Kentucky is Taylor Mill.

To see how your favorite 'Old Kentucky Home' faired, take a look below.

For more reading on safe places to live in and around Kentucky, check out:

The 10 Safest Cities In Kentucky For 2024

Population: 6,821
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 43 (eighth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 234 (safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Taylor Mill: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
9
/10

Welcome to our safest city in Kentucky: Taylor Mill. This old mill city in Kenton County should be called the 'The Best City to live in Kentucky,' too, because all is crazy safe and super fine in the 859. We don't know about you, but we think a city with local festivals and multiple recreational opportunities sounds like a place we could definitely call home.

And kudos to Taylor Mill, their snackability rating is off the charts: a whopping 8.5/10! Their number of amenities scored an 8.5/10 and their education rating an 8/10! There's a reason Taylor Mill's motto is 'Taylored with Pride,' they have a strong sense of community with a big city focus. Check it out! We're pretty sure you will want to call it home.

Edgewood, KY
Source: Public domain

Population: 8,372
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 0 (safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 537 (eighth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Edgewood: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
7
/10

Where Kentucky State Road 71 meets West Virginia State Road 275 is Edgewood. This Cincinnati-burb, known for its bootlegging' and rum running' stories from the late 1800s, is our secondsafest city in Kentucky 2024.

All bootlegging aside, Edgewood is also known for its safe, family friendly atmosphere. There is a ton of stuff to do in this little town of 8,372 residents in the tiny tip of Kenton County. They have a boat load of places to shop and dine, and their immaculate parks, Presidents Park, Freedom Park, and Victory Park, provide the backdrop for safe, friendly games of basketball, volleyball, and soccer for all ages. Heck, there town motto is "Where every day is a walk in the park".

So if you want to feel like everyday's a walk in the park, grab the fam, pack up the pick-up, and get a-movin' so you don't miss out on any of their safe, family friendly, activities scheduled for 2024.

Erlanger, KY
Source: Public domain

Population: 24,147
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 57 (tenth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 285 (second safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Erlanger: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
8.5
/10

Located a little south of the Ohio River, Erlanger, Kentucky, acts as a suburb of Cincinnati, just over the border in Ohio. Erlanger is less than 20 minutes from the city center and around 10 minutes from the region's main airport.

More than just a satellite of this economic activity, though, Erlanger has its own thriving business community. The United States Playing Card Co., maker of Bicycle brand cards, has its headquarters in town. Meanwhile, other international corporations have a manufacturing presence there.

These businesses are able to thrive in Erlanger in part as a result of its low crime rate. The town stands as the number 3 safest location in Kentucky. In a year, it experienced 14 violent crimes and 69 property crimes. This in a city of 24,147 people.

As a result, Erlanger boasts a per-capita crime rate of 343/100k people.

Fort Thomas, KY
Source: Public domain

Population: 17,159
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 23 (fifth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 536 (seventh safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Fort Thomas: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
9.5
/10

Of course Fort Thomas is safe. The whole idea behind a fort is to keep its inhabitants safe, and that is exactly what the 'City of Beautiful Homes,' has done to become our fourth safest city in Kentucky

This is the quintessential Kentucky river city located in the southern bank of the Ohio River. Not surprising, they received an 8.5/10 job opportunity score and an 8.5/10 affordability score. There is a sense of true community in this city in Campbell County.

Whether it's strolling their newly renovated downtown or at the local coffee shop, nothing says safe like a community that creates opportunities to get to know anything and everything about each other. Just make sure you take the trash out in proper attire because someone is always watching, and you wouldn't want to become the talk of hometown hero Cris Collinsworth's next NFL segment.

Population: 6,843
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 58 (11th safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 526 (fifth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Vine Grove: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
8.5
/10

Vine Grove is ideal for finding genuine Kentucky small-city vibes and big-city pride. This spirit is one of the reasons it has held firm from last year to be our fifth safest city in Kentucky.

It might not be Louisville, but this little town with a vibrant downtown scene, unforgettable summer festivals, and year-round fun is just as notable and safe. Probably why it's one of the most populated cities at the northern end of Hardin County.

Independence, KY
Source: Wikipedia User W.marsh | GFDL

Population: 29,211
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 68 (14th safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 362 (third safest)
Murders: 1
Murders Per 100k: 3
More on Independence: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
6
/10

One thing is certain -- Independence, Kentucky has declared independence from dangerous streets. Independence is the most populated city on this list, proving that safe cities don't have to come in small packages. The property crime rate in Independence is the real bragging point for residents; it's more than four times lower than the national average, earning the city the 3rd place rank in this category for Kentucky.

So grab a shot of bourbon at Boone County Distilling Co., knowing you couldn't manage to have your wallet stolen even if you tried.

Independence is the fifth and final city on this list in Kenton County, and is located just a short drive from many other cities on this list.

Population: 18,440
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 48 (ninth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 574 (tenth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Mount Washington: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
8.5
/10

Mount Washington just so happens to be our seventh safest city in Kentucky. And if you don't know how to keep it safe, they will put you in the Bullitt County Detention Center.

Mount Washington is a city slightly southeast of Louisville. Mount Washington's residents say that this little slice of paradise on the Kentucky/Indiana border is the 'Pride of the Bluegrass State.' So it is no surprise that they keep moving up our list. And, it's definitely not shocking that they scored a 9/10 safety rating.

Population: 7,337
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 27 (sixth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 763 (13th safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Villa Hills: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
9.5
/10

There is nothing yucky in this city in Kentucky. It's actually quite the opposite, Villa Hills is safe.

Located in the extreme northern tip of Kentucky on the Kentucky/Ohio border, Villa Hills is our number one safest city to live in the Bluegrass State.

Villa Hills offers a safe environment with small town charm. Home to over 45 assisted living facilities, this 'Special Place to Live' scored a whopping 9.5/10 on our snackablity scale. You wouldn't trust just anyone with granny and gramps, right? To be honest, the only crime being committed here is the love they have for the Cincinnati Bengals. We get you're a border town, but you might want to convince your state to get their own football team because it's kinda weird.

Villa Hills' gold star qualities like the non-existent number of crimes per 100,000 residents, their large number of educated residents, and just their overall safety standards, speaks volumes. With a little over 5,000 residents, the superb quality of life in this little village in Kenton County is the reason that it is our number one safest city in Kentucky for 2024.

Flatwoods, KY
Source: Wikipedia User User:Campaigner444 | GFDL

Population: 7,231
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 69 (15th safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 428 (fourth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Flatwoods: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
8
/10

Slap on a fluorescent orange safety jacket before you ride, and read on to find out why Flatwoods is our ninth safest city in Kentucky.

It might not be Barney Fife's Mayberry, or maybe it is, but this little town with a vibrant community, unforgettable neighborhoods, and year-round fun backed by a strong farming community is just as notable and just as safe. Probably why it's one of the most sought after cities outside of Ashland. It doesn't end there folks. This little piece of heaven, just outside Greenbo State Park, is a family friendly, safe city. It boasts convenient strip malls and we're pretty sure a Dollar General or two. It's a great place to raise a family. And word on the street is that young professionals are starting to take notice and move Flatwoods' direction. So don't wait, because the word is out.

And if you want to read more about how great Flatwoods is, check out our article The Best Cities in Kentucky. Not surprising, Flatwoods also made our top twenty. Good work 'Good Neighbor Community'!

Wilmore, KY
Source: Public domain

Population: 6,081
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 32 (seventh safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 624 (12th safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Wilmore: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
9
/10

Wilmore, Kentucky, is a relatively small town, with a population of just 6,081. However, don't let its size fool you. It's also a local cultural center, hosting the Highbridge Film Festival. It's also a convenient half-hour drive from Lexington, the state capital.

Adding to Wilmore's appeal is its impressively low crime rate. The town reported just 38 property crimes during the year. It also had 2 violent crimes. Overall, these figures lead to an overall crime rate of 657/100k people.

All this puts Wilmore at number 10 on the list of the safest places in Kentucky.

Methodology: How we calculated the safest cities in Kentucky for 2024

Safest Cities in Kentucky Graph

While there are surveys and public polls on what cities in Kentucky are the safest, we wanted to rely on something other than speculation and opinion. Instead, we looked at the hard numbers from the FBI's most recent crime report in Kentucky.

Specifically, we used Saturday Night Science to analyze the FBI's Uniform Crime Report, which summarizes the number of property and violent crimes in each city annually. We used two criteria:

  • Violent crimes per capita (murders, assaults, rapes, armed robberies)
  • Property crimes per capita (thefts, burglaries, motor vehicle thefts)

For example, there were 19 crimes committed in Taylor Mill, with a reported population of 6,821. That means the number of crimes per capita is 0.0028, which translates into a 1 in 359 chance of being the victim of a crime.

We only looked at Kentucky cities that have populations of more than 5,000. This filter left us with 77 of the biggest cities in Kentucky to rank.

We ranked each city for each criterion from 1 to 77 where 1 in any particular category is the safest.

Next, we averaged each place's two criteria to create a Safety Index. We crowned the place with the lowest overall Safety Score, "The Safest Place In Kentucky," with any ties going to the bigger city.

The safest city in Kentucky, based on our criteria, is Taylor Mill. The most dangerous city in Kentucky? Hopkinsville, where residents had a 1 in 24 chance of being the victim of a crime.

This article has been update for 2024. This report marks our tenth time ranking the safest places to live in Kentucky. All the data comes from the FBI's Crime In The USA 2022 report.

Best Places To Live In Kentucky

Summary: The Safest Cities In The Bluegrass State

Looking at the data, you can tell that Taylor Mill is as safe as they come in Kentucky, according to science and data.

But as most Kentucky residents would agree, almost every place here has its safe and not safe parts. So just make sure you're informed ahead of time.

The safest places in Kentucky are .

Here's a look at the most dangerous cities in Kentucky according to the data:

  1. Hopkinsville
  2. Louisville
  3. Owensboro
For more reading, check out:

Where Are The 10 Safest Cities In Kentucky For 2024?

Rank City Population Violent Crimes Per 100k Property Crimes Per 100k Murders Per 100k Murders
1 Taylor Mill, KY 6,821 43 234 0 0
2 Edgewood, KY 8,372 0 537 0 0
3 Erlanger, KY 24,147 57 285 0 0
4 Fort Thomas, KY 17,159 23 536 0 0
5 Vine Grove, KY 6,843 58 526 0 0
6 Independence, KY 29,211 68 362 3 1
7 Mount Washington, KY 18,440 48 574 0 0
8 Villa Hills, KY 7,337 27 763 0 0
9 Flatwoods, KY 7,231 69 428 0 0
10 Wilmore, KY 6,081 32 624 0 0
11 Fort Mitchell, KY 8,643 23 844 0 0
12 Highland Heights , KY 6,784 58 604 0 0
13 Lawrenceburg, KY 11,855 84 531 0 0
14 Lakeside Park-Crestview Hills, KY 6,227 16 1,156 0 0
15 Bellevue, KY 5,534 0 1,282 0 0
16 Versailles, KY 27,242 69 906 3 1
17 Cold Spring, KY 6,272 63 1,116 0 0
18 Highland Heights, KY 7,069 70 947 0 0
19 Cynthiana, KY 6,429 77 948 0 0
20 Fort Wright, KY 5,819 120 567 0 0
21 Madisonville, KY 19,292 98 917 0 0
22 Harrodsburg, KY 9,200 97 978 0 0
23 Paris, KY 10,174 88 1,189 0 0
24 Elizabethtown, KY 32,437 123 894 0 0
25 Alexandria, KY 10,416 76 1,324 0 0
26 Berea, KY 16,229 104 1,201 0 0
27 Elsmere, KY 9,157 109 1,179 0 0
28 Shelbyville, KY 17,481 120 1,172 0 0
29 Dayton, KY 5,685 175 826 0 0
30 Georgetown, KY 38,213 112 1,397 2 1
31 Williamsburg, KY 5,348 186 841 0 0
32 Hazard, KY 5,011 179 917 0 0
33 Lebanon, KY 6,473 169 1,158 15 1
34 Danville, KY 17,323 132 1,345 0 0
35 Campbellsville, KY 11,548 121 1,541 0 0
36 Monticello, KY 5,685 158 1,248 0 0
37 La Grange, KY 10,348 154 1,314 0 0
38 Murray, KY 17,506 131 1,645 0 0
39 Hillview, KY 8,721 149 1,490 0 0
40 Nicholasville, KY 31,882 131 1,712 3 1
41 Bardstown, KY 13,712 138 1,670 0 0
42 Princeton, KY 6,191 161 1,502 16 1
43 Maysville, KY 8,672 115 2,294 0 0
44 Jeffersontown, KY 28,519 108 2,538 3 1
45 Mount Sterling, KY 7,544 92 3,115 0 0
46 Glasgow, KY 15,194 164 1,895 0 0
47 Leitchfield, KY 6,433 186 1,694 0 0
48 Shepherdsville, KY 14,440 193 1,662 0 0
49 Richmond, KY 36,698 179 2,130 0 0
50 Middletown, KY 9,600 135 3,062 0 0
51 St. Matthews, KY 17,341 115 4,717 0 0
52 Morehead, KY 7,030 241 1,778 0 0
53 Frankfort, KY 28,559 231 1,936 10 3
54 Covington, KY 40,657 268 1,751 4 2
55 Somerset, KY 12,170 246 1,857 0 0
56 Henderson, KY 27,503 243 2,036 7 2
57 Radcliff, KY 22,931 204 2,215 0 0
58 Ashland, KY 21,300 187 2,469 9 2
59 Franklin, KY 10,174 186 2,693 0 0
60 Central City, KY 5,884 237 2,209 0 0
61 Mayfield, KY 9,966 210 2,307 0 0
62 Corbin, KY 7,762 270 2,048 0 0
63 Winchester, KY 18,989 184 3,380 0 0
64 London, KY 7,401 175 4,350 0 0
65 Russellville, KY 7,257 261 2,521 0 0
66 Pikeville, KY 7,190 305 2,169 0 0
67 Lexington, KY 320,983 270 2,715 10 33
68 Florence, KY 32,341 194 4,183 0 0
69 Paducah, KY 26,050 268 3,032 23 6
70 Newport, KY 14,017 292 2,982 7 1
71 Oak Grove, KY 7,810 294 2,791 38 3
72 Bowling Green, KY 74,427 284 3,817 5 4
73 Shively, KY 15,438 485 3,096 32 5
74 Middlesboro, KY 9,213 293 3,636 0 0
75 Owensboro, KY 59,839 369 3,459 5 3
76 Louisville, KY 678,236 981 3,309 28 192
77 Hopkinsville, KY 30,528 370 3,711 16 5

Breaking Down Crime In The Safest And Most Dangerous Cities In Kentucky

Safest Cities in Kentucky Breakdown

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn.

Safest Cities By State

Enjoy The Snack?

About HomeSnacks

HomeSnacks is based in Durham, NC.

We aim to deliver bite-sized pieces of infotainment about where you live.

We use data, analytics, and a sense of humor to determine quality of life for places across the nation.

© Chasing Chains, LLC. All rights reserved.