Best Life Index › States › Kentucky › Cities › Owensboro

Kentucky city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Owensboro?

What it costs to live in Owensboro, and how it compares with other Kentucky cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

44

16th best value in Kentucky

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Kentucky cities.

Overall livability

36

22nd overall in Kentucky

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Owensboro is home to about 59,839 people. A typical home runs $131,600 and a household earns around $47,400, a price-to-income ratio of 2.8. Among Kentucky's largest cities, it ranks 16th for value and 22nd overall.

Owensboro at a glance

Median home price

$131,600

15th in KY of 30

Median rent

$828/mo

Median household income

$47,400

Home price to income

2.8x

Unemployment

4.5%

12th in KY of 30

School rating

3/10

19th in KY of 30

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in KY of 30

Walk score

6/100

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‹ See all top Kentucky cities ranked  ยท  Kentucky state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Kentucky only. Updated 2026.