The Safest Small Towns In Kentucky

Kentucky is already a safe state, with a violent crime rate that is 40.7% lower than the national average, according to the FBI Crime Data Explorer. Some towns report even lower rates, as well as occupy striking settings. They sit near the Ohio and Kentucky rivers, beside an inland peninsula between two lakes, or within the state’s oldest community, with limited through traffic and quieter surroundings. These six towns rank among the safest in Kentucky based on violent crime rates, including aggravated assault, robbery, and homicide.

Cumberland

Cumberland is a small mountian town with some of the best Appalachian overlooks in the state. It is safe in terms of violent crime, with only seven reported aggravated assaults over a five year period and no reported homicides or robberies, according to data from the FBI Crime Data Explorer.

Part of this safety comes from the fact that the town is in a rural section of Appalachia with no major interstate highways passing through. Kingdom Come State Park is a common recreation area for residents, located on Pine Mountain. There are multiple overlooks that reach 2,700 feet in elevation, including Creech Overlook and the 12 O'clock Overlook, along with a Log Rock sandstone bridge and a 38-mile Little Shepherd Trail that follows Pine Mountain.

Fort Thomas

Fort Thomas is about an 11-minute drive from Cincinnati, Ohio. Despite its proximity to a large metro area, it has a very low crime rate. In terms of aggravated assault, its levels on a month-to-month basis are often zero or lower than the Kentucky average. In May 2026, it had an aggravated assault level of 5.96 per 100,000 people, compared to 8.39 in Kentucky. Its homicide and robbery rates are near zero as well.

The community's police department stays in touch with the community through regular social media posts, providing in depth information on any violent incidents. Tower Park has walking paths and military history. Its 102-foot tower was built in 1890 as part of the former military post. The Village Players of Fort Thomas stages community theater productions.

Carrollton

Carrollton sits on Kentucky's northern border with Indiana, separated by the Ohio River. It's a quiet town with fewer than 4,000 residents and an equally low crime rate. The FBI Crime Data Explorer reports no homicides or robberies over the last five years, and an aggravated assault rate that is at zero for most months over five years, except for a few isolated incidents.

Residents help keep their community safe through the Carrollton Neighborhood Watch Program with active alerts through social media. General Butler State Resort Park is near the confluence of the Ohio and Kentucky rivers. The park includes the CCC-built Butler Lake Trail, the 1859 Butler-Turpin State Historic Home, and the Two Rivers Restaurant.

Harrodsburg

Harrodsburg is the oldest town in the state of Kentucky, dating back to 1774 when James Harrod established a fort on what was then the western frontier. Much of the town's longevity comes from its ability to keep a safe environment for its residents. Its level of aggravated assaults have been below the Kentucky level since November 2025, with only one homicide over the past five years. Neighborhood Scout puts its violent crime at 1.69 per 1,000 residents, compared to 2.13 in Kentucky.

Harrodsburg has several historic sites, including a recreation of the original fort at the Old Fort Harrod State Park, along with a charming Shaker community turned nature retreat at the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill.

Eddyville

Eddyville is a western Kentucky community with close access to the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. Its low reported crime rates complement its access to outdoor recreation. Its level of aggravated assault, according to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, is practically nonexistent, with only two in the past five years, once in November 2025 and in January 2022. There are also no homicides or robberies in the past five years. The county's police department has a special focus on safety, including travel, as the Kentucky High Five Rural Traffic Safety Program aimed to improve safe vehicle practices such as seat belts and reduce speed from 2024 to 2025.

Mineral Mound State Park has an 18-hole golf course beside Lake Barkley. Nearby, Land Between the Lakes has fishing, hiking, and historic sites on the peninsula between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley.

Berea

Berea is best known as the home of Berea College, a liberal arts school with deep ties to Appalachia. This institute of higher learning has provided learning opportunities for freed slaves after the American Civil War and free tuition for low-income students in exchange for them working throughout the community. The university helps empower a safer atmosphere as well, as its violent crime rate over the last year is 0.85 per 1,000 residents, compared to 2.13 in Kentucky, according to data from Neighborhood Scout. The FBI Crime Data Explorer backs up this observation as its aggravated assault rate is overall below the state level per 100,000 people, with a few isolated incidents.

The Kentucky Artisan Center displays and sells work by local craftspeople. Berea College Forest has several hiking routes, including the Pinnacles trails and their mountain overlooks.

Towns Dedicated to Safety

Keeping a community safe depends on more than law enforcement alone. Local police departments, neighborhood programs, and public institutions all play a role in these towns. Berea College, nearby parks, and community gathering places also contribute to the quality of life found across the list. Crime rates can change over time, but the available data place these towns among Kentucky’s safer small communities.