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Living in
Paducah.
About
Life in Paducah
The arts scene is real here—it's not just marketing—with the UNESCO designation, a working artist community in Lower Town, and a performing arts center that books serious talent. The job market centers on healthcare, education, and river-related commerce, with barge operations and some manufacturing; unemployment sits at about 4.4%. Expect humid subtropical weather with hot, hazy summers averaging nearly 50 days above 90 degrees, winter mixing rain and snow with about 9 inches annually, and spring/fall that brings severe weather and occasional tornadoes—this region is prone to those.
Paducah at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
22.3%
Foreign-Born
2.7%
Broadband Internet
86.8%
of households
Population Growth
-1.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Paducah: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Paducah, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (21.4%), and 1.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.6%
of residents
65 and Older
17.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
41.7%
of households
Married Couples
33.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.19
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 14% below KY average
Rent, home values, and income in Paducah
In Paducah, rent runs 14% below the KY average, and home values are 20% below the KY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
86.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,390
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1967
median year built
Vacant Homes
15.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $192,711 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for KY
Unemployment in Paducah
Unemployment in Paducah 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 Paducah Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute15.7 min avg
How Paducah residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Paducah, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 85% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
Barkley Regional Airport (PAH)
Regional airport · few flights13k passengers boarded in 2025
- 125 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 17% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Paducah runs 17% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
274.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,386.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Paducah Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 35 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
89.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
McCracken County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In McCracken County, which includes Paducah, the most common type is strong wind, with 35 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 35 | Dense Fog | $351,000 |
| 2024 | 36 | Dense Fog | $226,000 |
| 2023 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.8M |
| 2022 | 41 | Drought | $23,000 |
| 2021 | 24 | Strong Wind | $55,000 |
| 2020 | 29 | Dense Fog | $33,000 |
| 2019 | 35 | Flood | $2.9M |
| 2018 | 40 | Flood | $415,000 |
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.
10 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
McCracken County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in McCracken County, which includes Paducah, is typically good — 272 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
272
per year
Moderate Days
93
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
McCracken County, county-wide
Climate87°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Paducah has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
68°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.1"
Annual Snowfall
3.1"
Hot Days/Year
42
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
83
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
103
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 25°F | 3.72" |
| Feb | 48°F | 28°F | 3.79" |
| Mar | 58°F | 36°F | 4.63" |
| Apr | 69°F | 46°F | 5.10" |
| May | 77°F | 56°F | 4.83" |
| Jun | 85°F | 65°F | 4.67" |
| Jul | 89°F | 68°F | 3.85" |
| Aug | 88°F | 66°F | 2.93" |
| Sep | 82°F | 59°F | 3.49" |
| Oct | 71°F | 47°F | 4.08" |
| Nov | 57°F | 36°F | 3.97" |
| Dec | 47°F | 29°F | 4.05" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 3.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Paducah
Paducah has 2 hospitals, averaging 3.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
6.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.5 / 5
Baptist Health Paducah
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Mercy Health - Lourdes Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Massac Memorial Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 8.4 mi away · Metropolis
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Paducah
Paducah's student/teacher ratio is 14.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 28.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Fort Donelson National Battlefield, 57 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Paducah
Paducah has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fort Donelson National Battlefield (57 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
57 mi awayTrail Of Tears National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
91 mi awaySte. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Paducah
Mccracken County Public Library
555 Washington Street, Paducah
Cities Near Paducah
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Paducah?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Paducah FAQ
Is Paducah, Kentucky affordable?⌄
Paducah's median rent is $834/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $49,915/year. Median home value is $165,300.
Is Paducah, Kentucky safe?⌄
Paducah's violent crime rate was 274 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2387 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Paducah, Kentucky?⌄
Paducah has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Paducah, Kentucky?⌄
The cost of living in Paducah is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $834/month and median household income is $49,915/year. The median home value is $165,300. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Paducah, Kentucky?⌄
The average commute in Paducah is 16 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