Below Average CostNear National AverageDaviess County
Owensboro2ndStAnn · Smallbones / Public domainOwensboro Morton Memorial · Chris Light of English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0Owensboro KY Military Memorial · Chris Light of English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0BBQfestival2008 · Afreeman / CC BY 3.0
Owensboro is a mid-sized city of 60,019 in Kentucky, with a median household income of $51,982
and a 4.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Owensboro stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Owensboro is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Owensboro city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 90.0
Owensboro's overall cost of living index is 90.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Owensboro costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Owensboro, KY
National Avg
Median Home Value
$151,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$888
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
57.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,982
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Owensboro's violent crime rate is 349.4 per 100,000 residents
— 8% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
349.4 /100k
Property Crime
2917.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Owensboro is served primarily by Daviess County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.4:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Owensboro, KY
National Avg
School District
Daviess County
—
Elementary Schools
13
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
7
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
25.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Owensboro sees average highs of 42.5°F in January
and 87.2°F in July,
with 47.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 5.7 inches of snow per year.
Owensboro's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Owensboro roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $151,800 and median rent is $888/month.
Owensboro's violent crime rate is 349.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2917.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Owensboro are operated by Daviess County.
The district has 13 elementary, 3 middle, and 7 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.4:1. 25.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Owensboro, KY has a population of 60,019, a median household income of $51,982, and an unemployment rate of 4.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Owensboro averages 42.5°F in January and 87.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.7 inches
with about 5.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Owensboro, KY is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 42301, 42303.
The population of Owensboro, Kentucky is 60,019 with a median age of 37.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Owensboro: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $151,800, median household income $51,982, crime index 111 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Owensboro side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
