Owensboro, KY vs Paducah, KY

Paducah is moderately more affordable than Owensboro, with a 5.5% lower cost of living index. Owensboro scores 72 compared to 68 for Paducah, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Owensboro can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Owensboro is $900/month compared to $817/month in Paducah — a 10% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Paducah has cheaper rent, Owensboro actually has lower median home values ($162,900 vs $164,600).

Median household income in Owensboro is $53,295 compared to $51,243 in Paducah (+4%). The higher salaries in Owensboro partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Owensboro spend roughly 20.3% of their income on rent, more than the 19.1% in Paducah.