City profile · Kentucky · Census ACS 2023

Paducah, KY

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Paducah - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

26,894
Residents
$51,243
Median income
$164,600
Median home
$1,058
Median rent (state)

Paducah - the verdict

Nationally, Paducah sits in the 21st percentile for household income and the 15th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

21st
percentile, household income
32nd
percentile, home value
25th
percentile, median rent
15th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Paducah, KY

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 26,894 residents in Paducah, a small city within Kentucky. The typical household in Paducah brings in $51,243 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 16.9%. Paducah's housing stock carries a median value of $164,600, and the median resident age is 43.2 years. About 28.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 57.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 92 residential building permits were authorized in Paducah (Building Boom), up 104% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Paducah's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 3064.9 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 58.8°F with 50.3 inches of precipitation per year and 8.9 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Kentucky run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Kentucky at 90.2 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,058 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Kentucky run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Paducah workers runs 14.6 minutes, with 79.3% driving alone and 6.7% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 89.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

26,894 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kentucky

Median Household Income

$51,243 /yr

Poverty 16.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kentucky average

How does Paducah compare to other US cities?

Where Paducah sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 21% higher than other cities
Home value 32% pricier than other cities
Median rent 25% pricier than other cities
Safety 15% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Kentucky, Paducah ranks #172 of 181 Kentucky cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Paducah's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Kentucky, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

21stIncome percentile
15thSafety percentile

21st percentile nationally for median household income · 15th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Paducah's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Paducah's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 36 Avg. percentile National median
Paducah's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Paducah's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$164,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 68% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Paducah $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Paducah, KY Paducah, KY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Paducah, KY-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Paducah, KY median $51,243/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Paducah, KY's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Paducah, KY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 16.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
26,894
Median Income
$51,243
Median Home Value
$164,600
Median Age
43.2
Poverty Rate
16.9%
Labor force participation
57.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3064.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
270.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2794.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
58.8°F
Annual Precipitation
50.3"
Annual Snowfall
8.9"

Schools

Total Schools
17
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
26,600 residents26,800 residents27,000 residents27,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 27,133 residents 26,730 residents ▼ -1.5%
Paducah's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
92
housing units authorized
Single-Family
18
detached homes
Multifamily
74
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 45
2020 24
2021 53
2022 46
2023 31
2024 92

Permit volume increased 104% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
14.6 minutes
Drive Alone
79.3%
Carpool
7.5%
Public Transit
1.0%
Walk
2.6%
Work from Home
6.7%
Other
2.9%

Based on 12,440 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Kentucky - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Kentucky state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Kentucky state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Paducah sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,058/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
89.7 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kentucky

Henderson
27,994 people
Frankfort
28,452 people
Jeffersontown
28,988 people
Independence
29,024 people
Radcliff
22,967 people
Hopkinsville
31,011 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Paducah's 26,894 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Oak Forest, IL
26,888 people
Garden City, MI
26,910 people
Plum, PA
26,873 people
Leisure, FL
26,917 people
Palm Springs, FL
26,871 people
Temple Terrace, FL
26,922 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Paducah's $51,243 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Corsicana, TX
$51,240 median income
Carolina, AL
$51,250 median income
Toxey, AL
$51,250 median income
Glacier View, AK
$51,250 median income
McGrath, AK
$51,250 median income
Nenana, AK
$51,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Paducah, KY Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Paducah, KY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 70.9% 20.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.7% White 70.9% Black or African American 20.1% Asian 1.8% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.1% Two or more races 5.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Paducah compares to nearby Kentucky cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Paducah (this city) 26,894 $51,243
Henderson 27,994 $47,176
Frankfort 28,452 $54,438
Jeffersontown 28,988 $78,185
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KY FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Paducah, KY?

What is the population of Paducah, KY? +

Paducah, KY counts 26,894 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Paducah, KY? +

In Paducah, the typical household earns $51,243 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Paducah? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Paducah; the closest available measure is the Kentucky state average, a cost of living index of 90.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Kentucky vary by metro area.

Is Paducah, KY safe? +

Paducah has a total crime rate of 3064.9 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Paducah, KY? +

Homes in Paducah carry a median value of $164,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Paducah? +

Climate normals put Paducah's yearly average temperature at 58.8°F, 50.3 inches of precipitation, and 8.9 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.