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METRO AREA

Owensboro Metro

Owensboro, KY · 2 counties · 113,962 residents (2025 est.) · 710.922 sq mi
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The short version

Owensboro has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $68,002. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $195,746.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 38%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
112,762
+11%since 2000
from 101,483 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
159 / sq mi
+11%since 2000
from 143 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.0
+6%since 2000
from 36.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:113,962 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
95K100K105K110K114K1990201020202024Owensboro
2024113K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$68,002
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,114 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,319
+97%since 2000
from $18,475 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
45.4%
+22.1 ptssince 2009
from 23.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.3%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 12.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.464
+6%since 2010
from 0.438 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade19.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services6.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance6%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade5.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration5.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services2%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$195,746
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $77,799 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$896
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $406 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.3%
−2.0 ptssince 2000
from 71.3% in 2000
30.7% rent
Vacancy rate
6.8%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.4%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 40.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.9
+34%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
79
RELATED:See current rent listings in Owensboro on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.7%(95,051)
Black3.9%(3,998)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(928)
Asian0.4%(378)
Other0%
Diversity Score12.7%(12,841)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic85.6%(96,565)
Black3.8%(4,231)
Hispanic / Latino4.1%(4,615)
Asian2%(2,201)
Other4.6%(5,150)
Diversity Score32.6%(36,802)
Segregation Score27.5%(30,998)
Diversity Score
33
+158%since 2000
from 13 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
27
−13%since 2020
from 31 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.5%
+9.3 ptssince 2000
from 16.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.9%
+12.1 ptssince 2000
from 79.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.5%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 5.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.3 min
+46%since 2000
from 13.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
84.0%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 86.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.4%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.1%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.7%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.5%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 6.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2011
from 60.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.7%
−26.0 ptssince 2009
from 59.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
50.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
3.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.7%
−40.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.0%
+2.2 ptssince 2012
from 14.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.4%
−83.0 ptssince 2013
from 88.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.4%
+14.8 ptssince 2017
from 74.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.1%
−2.4 ptssince 2016
from 96.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 2.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

OwensboroCENTRAL60,892
What's inside

2 component counties

Daviess CountyCENTRAL104,898McLean County9,064
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Owensboro

Lewiston
Pop 116,487
St. Simons
Pop 118,524
Lawrence
Pop 120,920
Grand Forks
Pop 105,046
Places similar to Owensboro
Head to head

Compare Owensboro side by side

OWENSBORO VS
Lewiston
Income$67,873same
Home value$252,800+29%
Population116,487+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OWENSBORO VS
St. Simons
Income$66,040−3%
Home value$257,539+32%
Population118,524+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OWENSBORO VS
Lawrence
Income$69,746+3%
Home value$309,400+58%
Population120,920+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OWENSBORO VS
Grand Forks
Income$69,566+2%
Home value$243,841+25%
Population105,046−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Owensboro, KY?

Owensboro, KY has about 112,762 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Owensboro, KY?

The typical household in Owensboro, KY earns about $68,002 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Owensboro, KY expensive?

In Owensboro, KY, the median home is worth about $195,746, and the typical rent is about $896 a month.

How educated are people in Owensboro, KY?

About 25.5% of adults age 25 and over in Owensboro, KY hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Owensboro, KY?

About 14.3% of people in Owensboro, KY live below the federal poverty line.

Has Owensboro, KY grown since 1990?

Yes, Owensboro, KY has grown since 1990. The population has added about 15,945 residents, a change of about 16 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →