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Living in
Owensboro.
About
Life in Owensboro
If you're considering Owensboro, you're looking at a midsized Ohio River city that punches above its weight in terms of livability. The cost of living is reasonable—median home values hover around $179,000 and rents average $900 a month—which makes it genuinely affordable compared to most mid-sized metros. The job market is stable with unemployment around 4.4%, and your commute won't eat up your life; the average is under 18 minutes.
Owensboro at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.9%
Foreign-Born
5.0%
Broadband Internet
89.4%
of households
Population Growth
+1.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.0% foreign-born, most often from Burma (Myanmar)
Who lives in Owensboro: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Owensboro, the largest foreign-born group is from Burma (Myanmar) (19.2%), and 4.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.8%
of residents
65 and Older
19.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.4%
of households
Married Couples
36.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.30
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 6% below KY average
Rent, home values, and income in Owensboro
In Owensboro, rent runs 6% below the KY average, and home values are 13% below the KY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
88.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,642
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1972
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $213,413 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for KY
Unemployment in Owensboro
Unemployment in Owensboro is close to the KY average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Owensboro Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.1 min avg
How Owensboro residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Owensboro, most residents drive alone to work (82%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Owensboro Daviess County Airport (OWB)
Regional airport · few flights8,938 passengers boarded in 2025
- 116 mi
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Major hub12.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 25% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Owensboro runs 25% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
413
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,343.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Owensboro Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 34 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
88.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Daviess County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Daviess County, which includes Owensboro, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 34 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 | Hail | $2.5M |
| 2024 | 44 | Strong Wind | $540,000 |
| 2023 | 34 | Thunderstorm Wind | $416,000 |
| 2022 | 31 | Winter Weather | $29,000 |
| 2021 | 19 | Dense Fog | $142,000 |
| 2020 | 19 | Frost/Freeze | $183,000 |
| 2019 | 37 | Flood | $291,000 |
| 2018 | 43 | Flood | $380,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Daviess County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Daviess County, which includes Owensboro, is typically good — 226 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
226
per year
Moderate Days
139
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Daviess County, county-wide
Climate86°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Owensboro has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
45°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.7"
Annual Snowfall
5.7"
Hot Days/Year
34
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
83
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
104
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 26°F | 3.26" |
| Feb | 47°F | 30°F | 3.63" |
| Mar | 57°F | 37°F | 4.38" |
| Apr | 68°F | 47°F | 4.48" |
| May | 77°F | 57°F | 4.59" |
| Jun | 84°F | 65°F | 4.14" |
| Jul | 87°F | 68°F | 4.16" |
| Aug | 87°F | 67°F | 2.89" |
| Sep | 82°F | 59°F | 3.13" |
| Oct | 70°F | 47°F | 3.27" |
| Nov | 57°F | 36°F | 3.37" |
| Dec | 46°F | 31°F | 4.26" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Owensboro
Owensboro has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Owensboro Health Regional Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Owensboro
Owensboro's student/teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 26.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
20
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Owensboro
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 842 students · in-state tuition $36,030 · 49% graduate · median earnings $52,218 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 545 students · in-state tuition $32,550 · 44% graduate · median earnings $49,034 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, 26 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Owensboro
Owensboro has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial (26 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
National Memorial
26 mi awayMammoth Cave National Park
National Park
67 mi awayGeorge Rogers Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
68 mi awayAbraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
National Historical Park
80 mi awayFort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Owensboro
Owensboro-Daviess County Public Library
2020 Frederica Street, Owensboro
Cities Near Owensboro
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Owensboro?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Owensboro FAQ
Is Owensboro, Kentucky affordable?⌄
Owensboro's median rent is $905/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $56,357/year. Median home value is $178,900.
Is Owensboro, Kentucky safe?⌄
Owensboro's violent crime rate was 413 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2343 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Owensboro, Kentucky?⌄
Owensboro has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Owensboro, Kentucky?⌄
The cost of living in Owensboro is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $905/month and median household income is $56,357/year. The median home value is $178,900. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Owensboro, Kentucky?⌄
The average commute in Owensboro is 17 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from