Kentucky’s Safest Cities of 2025

See crime rates for the safest cities.

According to our State of Safety survey, Kentucky leads the nation in terms of violent crime and is one of the top states for gun violence. It's therefore no surprise to learn that Kentuckians are among those least likely to feel safe in their state. 

But it's not all bad news. Paintsville, Kentucky's safest city of 2025, saw a 58% decrease in violent crime year over year—and it's not the only city on this year's list to report an incredible reduction in crime. 

We didn't have enough data to accurately calculate statewide crime rates for our 2025 report, but our annual State of Safety survey reveals crime trends across The Bluegrass State.

More of our Kentucky respondents reported first-hand experiences with crimes compared to the previous year, and Kentuckians are increasingly concerned about crime. Nearly two in five (39%) of  Kentuckians feel safe in their state, which matches last year's sentiment. 

The state leads the nation in terms of violent crime experiences, and our Kentucky survey respondents were twice as likely to have experienced a violent crime in the 8 months prior to our survey compared to the previous year. Kentuckians are also among those most likely to have experienced gun violence. Package theft experiences are a little closer to the national averages. 

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Concern about property crime increased among Kentuckians, but property crime remains less worrisome than violent crime and gun violence. Residents of The Bluegrass State reported an increase in property crime and package theft experiences. Kentuckians are more likely to experience property crime than the average American.

• The percentage of Kentuckians concerned about property crime increased from 48% to 58% year over year (US 54%).
• Package theft is the least of Kentuckians' concerns (compared to property crime, violent crime, gun violence, and cyber crime), but they still worry about package theft more than the average American (KY 57%, US 52%).
• Concern about package theft fell from 62% to 57% year over year.
• 32% said they experienced package theft in the 8 months prior to our survey, which is the fourth lowest percentage in the nation (US 37%).
• The percentage of Kentuckians who experienced property crime increased from 25% to 28% year over year (US 27%).
• 40% of Kentucky respondents increased their security measures in the 8 months prior to our survey, up from 32% the previous year (US 37%).
• Kentuckians prefer to protect their property with security cameras (55%), guard dogs (50%), and firearms (38%).
• Kentuckians are among those most likely to use security cameras. Only four other states report a higher level of use. 
• Kentuckians use guard dogs for property protection more than any other American (KY 50%, US 34%).

Kentuckians who took our State of Safety survey reported the highest levels of violent crime experience in the nation. The percentage of Kentuckians who said they experienced a violent crime in the 8 months prior to our survey doubled from the previous year and was also double this year's national average.

Unsurprisingly, Kentuckians are among those most concerned about violent crime. Only residents of California, Nevada, and Louisiana worry about it more than Kentuckians.

• 28% of Kentuckians said they experienced a violent crime in the 8 months prior to our survey—double last year's percentage and the highest experience level nationwide (US 14%).
• The percentage of Kentuckians who worry about violent crime on a daily basis rose from 59% to 70% year over year (US 59%).
• 38% of Kentuckians use some form of personal protection (US 35%). 
• Kentuckians prefer to protect themselves with pepper spray (19%), pocket knives (16%), and firearms (15%).
• Kentuckians are among those most likely to carry a stun gun (13%) or use a personal safety app (6%). 

• 65% of Kentuckians worry about gun violence on a daily basis, up from 57% last year (US 57%).
• 19% of survey respondents experienced gun violence in the 8 months prior to our survey, up from 12% the previous year (US 11%).
• Only Georgians experienced more gun violence than Kentuckians during this reporting year.
• 12 mass shooting events occurred in Kentucky during 2024, which is 4 more than in 2023.

For the purposes of this report, the terms “dangerous” and “safest” refer explicitly to crime rates as calculated from FBI crime data—no other characterization of any community is implied or intended.

• 115 Kentucky cities met the criteria for ranking this year.
• Paintsville rose 36 positions to land at #1.
• Other notable movers include #3 Williamstown (up 27 positions), #5 Providence (up 43 positions), #15 Prestonsburg (up 53 positions), and #19 Russell (up 25 positions).
• Paintsville and Providence cut their year-over-year violent crime and property crime rates by half or more.
• Prestonsburg decreased its violent crime rate by 82% year over year, while Fort Wright and Alexandria decreased theirs by 50%. 
• All but 6 of the safest cities saw a year-over-year decline in violent crime, and all but 5 saw a decrease in property crime.
• Kentucky's 20 safest cities reported a combined total of 1 murder, which occurred in Independence. 
• Aggravated assault is the most common violent crime in the nation, but eight of Kentucky's safest cities reported zero incidents: Williamstown, Beaver Dam, Pioneer Village, Prospect, Wilmore, Lakeside Park-Crestview Hills, and Russell. 
• 5 cities reported zero murders, rapes, and robberies: Paintsville, Hartford, Williamstown, Flatwoods, and Prestonsburg.

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