June 26, 2020 | Criminal Defense
People visiting Louisville often wonder: How safe is the city? This question comes up a lot, especially since Louisville is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.
Generally speaking, Louisville is a relatively safe area. The city’s crime rate is just below the national average. But when compared to other large metropolitan areas, Louisville is one of the safest large cities in the country.
Crime Rates in Louisville Lower than National Average
Although crime rates aren’t perfect, they can be helpful for understanding how safe a particular area is. Crime rates measure the number of crimes committed in an area based on population size. The higher the crime rate, the more frequently crime occurs.
Louisville’s overall crime rate, which is measured per 1,000 residents, was 42.37. Crime rates are also available for the two main categories of crimes – property crime and violent crime. It’s important to know the difference between these two types of crimes when thinking about how safe a city is.
- Property crimes involve some harm to property. Some examples include burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft.
- Violent crimes involve a perpetrator using or threatening to use force against another person. Common examples include assault, robbery, rape, and homicide.
In 2018, there were 26,277 reported crimes in Louisville. Property crimes accounted for 86.9% of all criminal offenses. Violent crimes accounted for 13.1% of all criminal offenses.
Property Crime
If you visit Louisville, there is a 1 in 27 chance that you’ll become a victim of a property crime. The city’s property crime rate, which is measured per 1,000 residents, is 36.82. This is greater than the national and state property crime rates.
The most frequently reported property crimes in Louisville are burglary (8.22), theft (2.74), and, motor vehicle theft (5.65).
Violent Crime
If you visit Louisville, there is a 1 in 180 chance that you’ll be a victim of a violent crime. The city’s violent crime rate, measured per 1,000 residents, is 5.56. This is greater than the national and state violent crime rates.
The most frequently reported violent crimes in Louisville are assault (4.12), robbery (1.94), rape (0.26), and murder (0.16)
Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Louisville
Keep in mind that crime rates might not be the same in every neighborhood. In fact, statistics show that crime tends to be concentrated in certain Louisville neighborhoods. This means that the city’s overall crime rates might not accurately reflect how safe Louisville actually is.
Below are the most dangerous neighborhoods in Louisville. All crime rates are measured per 1,000 residents.
Portland
Violent Crime Rates
- Assault: 55.71
- Robbery: 7.60
- Rape: n/a
- Murder: 0.40
Property Crimes Rates
- Burglary: 19.28
- Theft: 39.00
- Motor Vehicle Theft: 12.95
Violent Crime Rates
- Assault: 60.52
- Robbery: 6.02
- Rape: n/a
- Murder: 1.00
Property Crimes Rates
- Burglary: 24.19
- Theft: 29.31
- Motor Vehicle Theft: 9.13
California
Violent Crime Rates
- Assault: 58.69
- Robbery: 6.69
- Rape: n/a
- Murder: 1.34
Property Crimes Rates
- Burglary: 18.06
- Theft: 35.11
- Motor Vehicle Theft: 15.05
Park Hill
Violent Crime Rates
- Assault: 42.67
- Robbery: 5.14
- Rape: n/a
- Murder: 0.17
Property Crimes Rates
- Burglary: 19.37
- Theft: 22.79
- Motor Vehicle Theft: 7.71
Jacobs
Violent Crime Rates
- Assault: 30.39
- Robbery: 6.19
- Rape: n/a
- Murder: 0.28
Property Crimes Rates
- Burglary: 10.0
- Theft: 16.6
- Motor Vehicle Theft: 6.90
Parkland
Violent Crime Rates
- Assault: 29.08
- Robbery: 2.92
- Rape: n/a
- Murder: 0.7
Property Crimes Rates
- Burglary: 14.19
- Theft: 19.35
- Motor Vehicle Theft: 6.12
Shelby Park
Violent Crime Rates
- Assault: 44.52
- Robbery: 4.30
- Rape: n/a
- Murder: 1.23
Property Crimes Rates
- Burglary: 19.34
- Theft: 2.89
- Motor Vehicle Theft: 9.52
Hazelwood
Violent Crime Rates
- Assault: 33.54
- Robbery: 5.09
- Rape: n/a
- Murder: 0.36
Property Crimes Rates
- Burglary: 18.03
- Theft: 32.82
- Motor Vehicle Theft: 9.02
Algonquin
Violent Crime Rates
- Assault: 23.74
- Robbery: 1.58
- Rape: n/a
- Murder: 0.23
Property Crimes Rates
- Burglary: 6.56
- Theft: 13.19
- Motor Vehicle Theft: 4.20
Shawnee
Violent Crime Rates
- Assault: 43.93
- Robbery: 4.32
- Rape: n/a
- Murder: 0.38
Property Crimes Rates
- Burglary: 11.38
- Theft: 18.51
- Motor Vehicle Theft: 7.97
Taylor Berry
Violent Crime Rates
- Assault: 18.31
- Robbery: 3.92
- Rape: n/a
- Murder: 0.91
Property Crimes Rates
- Burglary: 9.29
- Theft: 14.39
- Motor Vehicle Theft: 3.83
South Louisville
Violent Crime Rates
- Assault: 34.31
- Robbery: 5.90
- Rape: n/a
- Murder: 0.82
Property Crimes Rates
- Burglary: 11.67
- Theft: 32.67
- Motor Vehicle Theft: 7.55
Merriwether
Violent Crime Rates
- Assault: 18.21
- Robbery: 1.95
- Rape: n/a
- Murder: 0
Property Crimes Rates
- Burglary: 4.55
- Theft: 20.81
- Motor Vehicle Theft: 7.80
Smoketown Jackson
Violent Crime Rates
- Assault: 77.06
- Robbery: 7.39
- Rape: n/a
- Murder: 7.34
Property Crimes Rates
- Burglary: 21.41
- Theft: 46.48
- Motor Vehicle Theft: 11.62
Wyandotte
Violent Crime Rates
- Assault: 34.44
- Robbery: 4.28
- Rape: n/a
- Murder: 0.39
Property Crimes Rates
- Burglary: 14.40
- Theft: 24.52
- Motor Vehicle Theft: 9.34
So, How Safe is Louisville?
Generally speaking, Louisville is a relatively safe city, especially compared to other large U.S. cities. The chances of someone becoming the victim of a property crime are much greater than the chances of becoming the victim of a violent crime. However, it’s always important to be alert and cautious whenever you visit an area that you aren’t familiar with.
Contact the Louisville Criminal Defense Attorneys at Suhre & Associates, LLC For Help Today
For more information, contact the criminal defense attorneys at Suhre & Associates, LLC give us a call today at (502) 371-7000 or visit us at our Louisville law office.
Suhre & Associates, LLC
214 S Clay St A
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 371-7000