What it's like to live in Madisonville
Madisonville is a small city in Kentucky with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Madisonville deals with household incomes below the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, above-average rainfall, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High poverty rate
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Madisonville compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Madisonville
Based on Madisonville's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,676
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $33,520 a year
- 48% of Madisonville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$32,820
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $16,410
- Homes cost 3.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 41% below US
$838/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $838 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $164,100. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $164,100 · 48% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.8% county unemployment
Unemployment in Hopkins County is 4.8%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Hopkins County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 55% below US
149 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 488/100k · Madisonville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 31% below US
18 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 88°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 31°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 2.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 34% below US
24% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 24%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
12 public schools inside the boundary
There are 12 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial (60 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Madisonville's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and a poverty rate above the national average. A year of median rent ($838/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Madisonville
All Kentucky guides →Moving to Henderson →
35 mi away · pop. 27,852
Rent $771/mo · Income $48,186
Compare with Madisonville →Moving to Hopkinsville →
35 mi away · pop. 30,906
Rent $902/mo · Income $49,139
Compare with Madisonville →Moving to Owensboro →
36 mi away · pop. 60,302
Rent $905/mo · Income $56,357
Compare with Madisonville →Moving to Fort Campbell North →
47 mi away · pop. 11,356
Rent $1,529/mo · Income $58,933
Compare with Madisonville →Not sure Madisonville is the one?
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