Is Rome safe?
Owensboro, Kentucky · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Rome as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Rome
“Go. Rome is a quiet, low-crime unincorporated community on the western fringe of Owensboro that is exceptionally peaceful and safe. Visitors will need a vehicle to get around, as there are very few tourist attractions directly within the residential boundaries.”
About the area
Rome is a semi-rural and suburban pocket located along KY-56 west of Owensboro proper in Daviess County. The neighborhood is characterized by single-family homes, small subdivisions, farmland, and light commercial outposts. It provides a relaxed, slow-paced environment with standard suburban safety and minimal street activity.
- Suburban / Rural
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet / Peaceful
- Family-Friendly
Walking and biking in Rome
Walk score: 12/100 · Bike score: 24/100
There is no bike-share program and no dedicated bike lanes in Rome; cycling is restricted to rural highway shoulders like KY-56 with higher-speed vehicle traffic.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Very low violent and property crime rates compared to state and national averages
- High rate of homeownership and well-maintained single-family properties
- Quiet, low-density rural-suburban atmosphere with minimal through-traffic disturbances
Cons
- Completely car-dependent with virtually no pedestrian infrastructure or sidewalks
- Limited retail and dining options directly within the neighborhood borders
- Poor night street lighting along rural connectors like KY-56
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically non-existent in Rome. Emergency shelters and social services are located closer to downtown Owensboro.
What Rome is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Crisp and peaceful with light commuter traffic on KY-56 and safe conditions across local residential roads.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Very calm neighborhood atmosphere with school buses and standard residential traffic, completely safe to navigate.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet and relaxing as residents return home, though reduced street lighting requires attention while driving.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Virtually deserted and safe from crime, though isolated dark rural roads mean visibility is low.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is virtually nonexistent in Rome. Owensboro Transit System (OTS) operates bus routes inside Owensboro city limits, but fixed-route service does not extend directly into unincorporated Rome.
Parking is abundant, hassle-free, and entirely free of charge across private driveways and commercial parking lots.
Things to do in Rome
- Camp, fish, or catch seasonal live entertainment at the nearby Diamond Lake Resort
- Shop for locally raised beef, pork, and dairy products at Hill View Farms Meats
- Take a scenic rural drive through western Daviess County farmlands toward the Ohio River
Local favorites
- Diamond Lake Resort · Resort & Campground · 4.2★ (650)Family-friendly recreation destination featuring stocked fishing lakes, go-karts, mini-golf, and a live theater.
- Hill View Farms Meats · Farm Market & Butcher · 4.8★ (120)Locally owned market offering pasture-raised meats, farm-fresh eggs, and artisanal Kentucky food goods.
- Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.4★ (6100)Iconic regional barbecue destination just east along KY-56, famous for traditional Owensboro mutton and burgoo buffet.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.