Louisville, KY Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions: Louisville, KY Crime & Safety

Is Louisville safe?

Based on an analysis of 159 neighborhoods, Louisville leans heavily toward the safe end of the spectrum. A full 75.5% of neighborhoods earned an A grade, and another 12.6% earned a B — meaning 88% of Louisville neighborhoods fall into the safe category. Only 6.3% of neighborhoods received a D or F grade. The city-wide safety rating aggregated across all neighborhoods is Very Safe (A), even though the overall crime grade for the city as a whole is a D+, reflecting how crime is concentrated in a small number of high-density areas rather than spread evenly. Neighborhoods like Anchorage (A+), Green Spring (A+), and Seneca Gardens (A+) consistently rank among the safest, while areas like Russell (F) and Smoketown (F) account for the elevated city-level grade. For most residents choosing where to live, the odds strongly favor landing in a safe neighborhood.

What is the crime rate in Louisville?

Louisville's crime picture is one of stark contrasts. Across 159 analyzed neighborhoods, 120 — or 75.5% — received an A grade, signaling very low crime levels. At the other end, just 2 neighborhoods (1.3%) received an F grade — Russell and Smoketown — and 8 neighborhoods (5%) received a D grade, including California, Phoenix Hill, and Park DuValle. The city-wide safety rating is Very Safe (A) when neighborhood grades are aggregated, yet the overall city crime grade sits at D+, illustrating that a small cluster of high-crime neighborhoods pulls the citywide average down significantly. Louisville's population of over 1 million and a population density of 906 people per square mile mean that understanding which specific neighborhoods drive crime statistics is essential for accurate interpretation.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Louisville?

Of the 159 neighborhoods analyzed, 120 earned an A grade and several earned the top A+ rating. The ten safest neighborhoods are:

• Broeck Pointe — Grade A+, median income $140,833
• Wildwood — Grade A+, median income $136,337
• Hills & Dales — Grade A+, median income $215,978 (highest in the city)
• Heritage Creek — Grade A+, median income $80,597
• Manor Creek — Grade A+, median income $140,833
• Green Spring — Grade A+, median income $136,025
• Ten Broeck — Grade A+, median income $140,833
• Anchorage — Grade A+, median income $170,944
• Riverwood — Grade A+, median income $170,330
• Seneca Gardens — Grade A+, median income $111,421

A notable pattern: 9 of the 10 safest neighborhoods have median household incomes above $100,000, compared to the city median of $54,929. Heritage Creek is the exception at $80,597, still well above the city median. These neighborhoods are predominantly located in the eastern and southeastern corridors of the Louisville metro area.

Which neighborhoods in Louisville have the highest crime?

Five neighborhoods account for the bulk of Louisville's elevated crime concerns. Russell and Smoketown both received F grades — the lowest possible rating — placing them in the bottom 1.3% of all 159 neighborhoods analyzed. Three additional neighborhoods earned D grades: California, Phoenix Hill, and Park DuValle. Together, these five neighborhoods represent just 6.3% of analyzed neighborhoods but contribute disproportionately to the city's overall D+ crime grade. For context, the combined D and F neighborhoods (10 total, including D-grade areas) represent only about 6.3% of all neighborhoods, underscoring that elevated crime is geographically concentrated rather than citywide. Residents and visitors should use the interactive crime map to review current incident data before making decisions about these areas.

How does Louisville's grade distribution compare across its 159 neighborhoods?

The grade distribution across Louisville's 159 neighborhoods breaks down as follows:

• Grade A: 120 neighborhoods (75.5%) — Very low crime, the dominant category
• Grade B: 20 neighborhoods (12.6%) — Low to moderate crime
• Grade C: 9 neighborhoods (5.7%) — Moderate crime
• Grade D: 8 neighborhoods (5%) — Elevated crime
• Grade F: 2 neighborhoods (1.3%) — Highest crime (Russell, Smoketown)

The combined A and B neighborhoods represent 88% of all Louisville neighborhoods, meaning the overwhelming majority of the city qualifies as safe or very safe by grade. The combined D and F neighborhoods represent just 6.3%. This distribution explains the apparent paradox of a city-wide D+ overall crime grade alongside a neighborhood-aggregated Very Safe (A) city-wide safety rating — crime is heavily concentrated in a narrow slice of the city.

Is Louisville a good place to live?

For most residents, Louisville offers a compelling quality-of-life proposition. With a median home value of $164,752 and median rent of $878, housing costs are well below the national average, making homeownership accessible across income levels. The median household income of $54,929 supports a reasonable standard of living, though the 15.2% poverty rate and 5.7% unemployment rate reflect economic challenges in certain communities. From a safety standpoint, 88% of Louisville's 159 analyzed neighborhoods carry an A or B safety grade, giving prospective residents strong odds of finding a safe place to settle. Neighborhoods like Hills & Dales (median income $215,978, Grade A+) and Anchorage (median income $170,944, Grade A+) represent the city's most affluent and safest communities, while even mid-tier neighborhoods like Seneca Gardens (Grade A+, median income $111,421) offer excellent safety profiles at more moderate price points. The key for anyone relocating to Louisville is using neighborhood-level crime grades — not just the city-wide D+ — to make an informed decision.