The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Shelby County, KY: Crime Maps and Statistics

Crime per Capita in Shelby County

The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Shelby County.

 

Shelby County, KY Map of Crime Rates
Click the map to explore
A+ B C D F
Safest Highest crime
Colorblind friendly off

A

Overall Crime Grade™

A+
A+
Other Crime Grade
B+

$15.8 million

Cost of Crime™ for Shelby County, KY

In 2025, crime will cost $867 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Shelby County in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.

Is Shelby County, KY Safe?

The A grade indicates that the rate of crime is much lower than that of the average US county. Shelby County ranks in the 90th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 90% of counties but less safe than 10%. This analysis applies only to Shelby County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.

The crime rate in Shelby County is 17.79 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Shelby County Residents generally consider the southwest part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Shelby County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 42 in the central areas to 1 in 97 in the southwest.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the central parts of Shelby County, KY see the most incidents - about 278 per year. In contrast, the southwest part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 33 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Shelby County, KY

The total projected cost of crime in Shelby County for 2025 is $15,815,634. This translates to approximately $322 per resident and $867 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.8% of the median household income in Shelby County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 53.7%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 33.6%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.7%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Shelby County Compared to Other Counties?

Shelby County, KY: $322
Jefferson County, KY: $672
Boone County, KY: $332
Kentucky: $450
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Shelby County is $322 per year, which is $142 less than the national average and $127 less than Kentucky's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Shelby County:
  • In Jefferson County, KY, crime costs $672 per person, which is $349 more than in Shelby County.
  • In Boone County, KY, crime costs $332 per person, which is $9 more than in Shelby County

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Shelby County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to Shelby County
Cost per Shelby County Resident
Murder
$5.80 million
$118
Rape/Sexual Assault
$1.76 million
$36
Robbery
$405,630
$8
Assault
$1.41 million
$29
Kidnapping
$809,557
$17
Vehicle Theft
$896,915
$18
Burglary
$612,269
$12
Theft
$1.51 million
$31
Arson
$85,468
$2
Vandalism
$858,186
$17
Animal Cruelty
$27,653
$1
Drug Crimes
$1.51 million
$31
Identity Theft
$126,116
$3
Total Cost of Crime
$15,815,634
$322

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Shelby County, KY

CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Shelby County totals $47,377,306 ($966 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $63,192,940 ($1,288 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.

Interpreting the Crime Maps

When interpreting the Shelby County crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the county has few retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which Shelby County has 3, have the same problem. Of Shelby County’s 49,047 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.

To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Shelby County, KY at ISP Reports.

Shelby County Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Shelby County residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
1.003
Robbery
0.2629
Rape
0.5910
Murder
0.0630
Total Violent Crime
1.920 (A+)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
5.953
Vehicle Theft
1.181
Burglary
1.376
Arson
0.0722
Total Property Crime
8.583 (A+)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.2722
Drug Crimes
4.158
Vandalism
2.449
Identity Theft
0.3322
Animal Cruelty
0.0762
Total "Other" Rate
7.288 (B+)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties

Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in Shelby County is lower. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Shelby County.

Nearby County
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
A
A+
A-
A
A-
A-
A+
A+
A
C
A-
C-
A-
A
B
C-
C+
C-
A-
A
B
B+
A
A-
A-
A-
B
B+
A+
B-

Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations

Shelby County is lower versus other counties of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in counties with comparable overall population in the county‘s boundaries.

Similar County
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
F
F
F
A-
A-
A-
C-
B
B
B-
B+
B+
A+
C+
C+
B-
B
B
A-
A
A
D+
C
C
A+
A+
A+
C+
C
C

Considering only the crime rate, Shelby County is safer than the Kentucky state average and safer than the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Shelby County, KY average SchoolGrade of D, with 27% actual proficiency versus 32% projected; overall, schools underperform expectations. See Shelby County schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.