In 2025, Bowling Green police reported 151 violent crimes (187 per 100,000 residents), including 2 murders, 21 robberies and 70 aggravated assaults, plus 1,843 property crimes, according to FBI data.
Population covered: 80,821. Violent-crime rate rank: 3 of 3 large Kentucky cities on this site (1 = highest rate). Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, agency KY1140100, January–December 2025.
| City | Violent / 100k | Violent | Murders | Property / 100k | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | 674 | 4,659 | 19 | 3,438 | Totals |
| Lexington | 228 | 755 | 15 | 2,080 | Totals |
| Bowling Green | 187 | 151 | 2 | 2,280 | Totals |
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer agency counts for 2025 (all 12 months reported unless noted), retrieved October 7, 2026. Rates use the population the FBI lists for each police agency.
Bowling Green's violent-crime rate of 187 per 100,000 people in 2025 was 13% lower than the Kentucky rate (214) and 42% lower than the U.S. rate (320). That works out to one reported violent crime for every 535 residents, or about 2.9 a week.
Among the 362 cities with full-year FBI numbers on CityCrimeMap, Bowling Green ranks 306th for violent crime, in the lower half, and 226th for murder (2 murders, 2.5 per 100,000).
Aggravated assaults made up 46% of Bowling Green's violent crimes and robberies 14%, close to the national robbery share of 15%.
Property crime ran 2,280 per 100,000, 79% higher than Kentucky overall. Bowling Green police logged 159 vehicle thefts (197 per 100,000, 204th of 351; Kentucky: 193) and 212 burglaries (262 per 100,000, 55% higher than the state).
The closest city we cover is Clarksville, 58 miles southwest in Tennessee; its violent-crime rate (366) is 2 times Bowling Green's.
Out-of-state cities near Bowling Green's size (80,821 residents): Rapid City, SD at 767 violent crimes per 100,000 and Missoula, MT at 591.
By the FBI's 2025 numbers, Bowling Green had 187 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 13% lower than the statewide 214. It is 3rd highest of the 3 Kentucky cities on this site; Louisville is highest at 674. A city-wide rate does not tell you about a single block.
Bowling Green police reported 2 murders for 2025, a rate of 2.5 per 100,000 residents. The Kentucky rate was 2.8 and the national rate 4.1.
159 vehicles were reported stolen in Bowling Green in 2025, 197 per 100,000 residents. That is about even with the national rate of 195 and ranks 204th of 351 cities on this site.