If you are thinking about visiting Lexington and have some qualms about the safety of the city, we got you covered.
We are going to deep dive into the statistics, look at some maps, graphs and talk to the residents of the city to give you a better understanding of how safe Lexington really is.
Is Lexington, KY Safe?
Lexington is a safe city, as indicated by its crime rates. In 2021, Lexington had a violent crime rate of 305.17 per 100,000 people. Lexington violent crime rate is 23% below than the national average and is one of the safer cities in the United States with a population of over 200,000 people. Lexington’s crime rate is similar to cities like Chula Vista, Anaheim and Laredo.
Here’s a scale to give you some perspective on Lexington’s violent crime rate:
Lexington, KY Crime Stats
Here’s a breakdown of all the crimes in the city for 2021 compared to 2020:
|
2020 |
2021 |
Percent Change |
Homicide |
29 |
37 |
28% |
Rape |
190 |
192 |
1% |
Robbery |
337 |
286 |
-15% |
Aggravated Assault |
501 |
467 |
-7% |
VIOLENT CRIMES TOTAL |
1,057 |
982 |
-7% |
Burglary |
1,461 |
1,201 |
-18% |
Larceny/Theft |
6,916 |
6,819 |
-1% |
Motor Vehicle Theft |
1,046 |
1,057 |
1% |
Arson |
38 |
12 |
-68% |
PROPERTY CRIMES TOTAL |
9,461 |
9,089 |
-4% |
TOTALS |
10,518 |
10,071 |
-4% |
*All data is from the FBI UCR and cross Referenced with the Lexington Police Department*
Lexington Crime Rates
Lexington’s Violent Crime Rate
In 2021 Lexington reported 982 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 305.17 per 100,000 people.
- Year over year violent crime has decreased by 7%. Homicides increased by 28%. Aggravated assaults decreased by 7% and robberies decreased by 15%.
*Violent crimes include; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults and the violent crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
Here’s a graph showing you how violent crime has trended in Lexington over a 12 year period. Violent crime peaked in 2010 when there was 1,724 violent crimes reported.
Lexington’s Murder Rate
In 2021, Lexington reported 37 murders and had a murder rate of 11.50 per 100,000 people. Lexington’s murder rate is 77% higher than the national average.
- Year over year murder has increased by 28%.
- As of July 17, 2022, Lexington has reported 25 homicides.
Shootings in Lexington
In 2021, there were 134 shootings reported in Lexington and as of 7/16/2022, there have been 67 shootings reported.
Lexington’s Property Crime Rate
In 2021 Lexington reported 9,089 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 2,824.49 per 100,000 people. Lexington’s property crime rate is 44% higher than the national average.
- Year over year property crime in Lexington has decreased by 4%.
*Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson and property crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
Lexington vs other citites in Kentucky (2020)
City |
Population |
Violent Crime Rate |
615,924 |
926.58 |
|
Covington |
40,961 |
375.97 |
Bowling Green |
72,294 |
341.66 |
Lexington |
322,570 |
327.68 |
Hopkinsville |
31,180 |
285.44 |
Owensboro |
60,183 |
267.52 |
Richmond |
34,585 |
193.73 |
Florence |
31,946 |
172.17 |
Georgetown |
37,086 |
169.88 |
Elizabethtown |
31,394 |
140.15 |
Lexington vs the most dangerous cities in the United States
Here’s a list of the top 22 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates.
What do residents say about the safety of Lexington?
- Lexington is insanely tame compared to other cities. As long as you don’t go looking for trouble, you should be fine.
- Lexington is pretty safe. The not so great sections of the city are located in the lowest income residential neighborhoods, which are located in Downtown and North Lexington.
- North Broadway and Loudon is probably an area you want avoid in Lexington
- As a single woman, living alone in Lexington, never once have I ever felt unsafe while living here. I think the most unsfae thing here are the drivers.
- Lexington is pretty cozy and pleasant and extremely safe. People who says otherwise have never really lived in a unsafe area.
- The majority of Lexington is safe.
- Very generally speaking, North is bad, South is good.
- Winburn, Cardinal Valley, Eastland, Castlewood and Center Parkway are the sketchy neighborhoods in Lexington.
Is Downtown Lexington safe?
Downtown Lexington is generally a safe area to visit during the day It’s a very popular area that is usually filled with crowds of people and has a good police presence.
At night, you should stay in the main downtown area and not stray too far outside, as those areas can be a little sketchy at night. Avoid walking through desolate areas and stay in well populated areas.
Is the public transportation of Lexington Safe?
The public transportation system in Lexington is handled by Lextran and it offers many routes that interweave throughout the entire city. The Lextran is generally safe to use during the commuting hours (7am – 7pm), however we do not recommend that you use it late at night. You should opt for a ride sharing service or cab outside those hours.
Is Lexington safe at night?
Lexington is generally safe at night. At night we recommend that you take a few extra precautions by staying in well populated places, not straying off the beaten path and not walking by yourself.
Tips to stay safe while visiting Lexington, KY
- Always be aware of your surroundings. Don’t get lost in your phone while walking around.
- Thoroughly research the city before you arrive. Figure out the good and bad parts of the city and adjust your travels accordingly.
- Walk with confidence and purpose. Criminals like to target people who look lost and are unsure of themselves.
- Save the sightseeing for the daytime and stay out of the sketchy neighborhoods at night.
- Park in lighted/high traffic areas when possible. Don’t leave anything of value in your car or in plain sight in your car.
- Don’t walk by yourself at night. Stay in well populated areas. Avoid walking through alleys and desolate areas at night.
Facts about Lexington
- The population of Lexington in 2021 was 321,793.
- The median income for a household in the city was $58,954. The per capita income for the city was $35,466.
- 91.9% of residents 25 and older is a high school graduate. 45% of residents 25 and older has a bachelors degree or higher.
- 15.8% of the population live below the poverty line.
- The median home value in Lexington is $310K in 2022.
- In 2022, the average rent for a Lexington 2-bedroom apartment is $1,025
- The median age in the city is 34.6 years old.