Lexington, KY Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Lexington, KY

Is Lexington, KY safe to live in?

Lexington earns an overall crime grade of B- and a city-wide safety rating of A (Very Safe) when neighborhood-level data is aggregated across all 218 analyzed areas. A striking 83.5% of neighborhoods hold a Grade A rating, and a combined 96% fall into the safe A or B tier. Only 1% of neighborhoods — just one area out of 218 — carry a D or F grade, and no neighborhood in Lexington received an F. Standout safe communities include Dogwood Trace (Grade A+, median income $124,423), Cumberland Hill (Grade A+, median income $127,107), and Andover Hill (Grade A+, median income $161,879). By nearly every statistical measure, Lexington is a very safe city for residents and families.

What is the crime rate in Lexington, KY?

Rather than raw numeric scores, Lexington's crime picture is best understood through its grade distribution. Of the 218 neighborhoods analyzed, 182 (83.5%) earned a Grade A, 27 (12.4%) earned a Grade B, 8 (3.7%) earned a Grade C, and only 1 (0.5%) earned a Grade D. That means 96% of Lexington neighborhoods are rated safe (A or B), while only about 4% fall into the C–D range. The neighborhoods with the most elevated crime levels include William Wells Brown (D+), Georgetown Street (C-), and Northside (C-) — collectively a small fraction of the city's total residential landscape. For a city of 316,743 residents with a population density of 438 people per square mile, these figures reflect a broadly safe urban environment.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Lexington, KY?

Ten neighborhoods currently hold the top Grade A+ rating in Lexington, spanning a range of population sizes and income levels. The data highlights a clear pattern: the safest areas tend to have significantly higher median household incomes compared to the city median of $58,954. Here's how the top ten break down:

• Chilesburg — Grade A+, median income $179,458
• Andover Hill — Grade A+, median income $161,879
• Charleston Woods — Grade A+, median income $165,977
• Copper Run — Grade A+, median income $137,569
• Copperfield — Grade A+, median income $137,530
• Golf Townhomes at Andover — Grade A+, median income $129,305
• Clemens Heights / Clemens Grove — Grade A+, median income $128,807
• Cumberland Hill — Grade A+, median income $127,107
• Dogwood Trace — Grade A+, median income $124,423
• Glens at Greendale — Grade A+, median income $96,000

Together, these neighborhoods demonstrate that Lexington's safest pockets are well-established, economically stable communities — ideal benchmarks for homebuyers and renters prioritizing safety.

Which Lexington neighborhoods have higher crime?

Out of 218 neighborhoods, only a small cluster registers elevated crime grades. William Wells Brown is the sole neighborhood with a Grade D+ — the lowest rating in the entire city, and notably, no neighborhood received an F. The next tier of concern includes Georgetown Street (C-) and Northside (C-), both sitting at the lower end of the C range, followed by Winburn (C+) and Martin Luther King (C+). Combined, these five neighborhoods represent just 2.3% of the 218 areas analyzed. For context, Lexington's poverty rate is 15.8% and unemployment sits at 5.2% — socioeconomic factors that research consistently links to localized crime concentration in specific corridors rather than city-wide trends.

Is Lexington a good place to live in 2026?

The data makes a compelling case. With 96% of neighborhoods graded A or B, a median home value of $201,289, and a median rent of just $920 per month, Lexington offers an accessible cost of living relative to its safety profile. The city's 316,743 residents benefit from a median household income of $58,954 — moderate by national standards but well-supported by the city's relatively affordable housing market. The 0% of neighborhoods graded F is particularly notable; it means even the lower-performing areas have not reached the most severe crime thresholds. Whether you're drawn to the A+ safety of Copperfield or the community character of areas like Cumberland Hill, Lexington's neighborhood-level data in 2026 points to a city that is overwhelmingly safe and livable across a wide range of budgets and lifestyles.