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METRO AREA

Paducah Metro

Paducah, KY-IL · 5 counties · 102,259 residents (2025 est.) · 1,235.455 sq mi
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The short version

Paducah has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $64,050. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $167,463.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
102,748
−1%since 2000
from 104,116 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
83 / sq mi
−1%since 2000
from 84 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.2
+10%since 2000
from 39.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:102,259 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
99K101K102K103K105K1990201020202024Paducah
2024103K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$64,050
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,991 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,011
+99%since 2000
from $18,628 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.3%
+20.9 ptssince 2009
from 22.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 14.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.473
+5%since 2010
from 0.451 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance7.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2%
US avg: 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction1.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$167,463
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $71,396 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$870
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $394 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
72.0%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 73.5% in 2000
28.0% rent
Vacancy rate
16.0%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.7%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 19.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.4%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 35.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
+21%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
65
RELATED:See current rent listings in Paducah on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.4%(93,105)
Black7.9%(8,227)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(987)
Asian0.4%(395)
Other0%
Diversity Score21.5%(22,363)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic84.1%(86,413)
Black7.6%(7,830)
Hispanic / Latino3.1%(3,209)
Asian0.6%(647)
Other4.5%(4,649)
Diversity Score35.5%(36,452)
Segregation Score30.8%(31,632)
Diversity Score
35
+65%since 2000
from 21 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
31
−10%since 2020
from 34 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.7%
+9.6 ptssince 2000
from 15.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.6%
+14.1 ptssince 2000
from 78.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.4%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.0 min
+52%since 2000
from 13.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.5%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 83.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.6%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.0%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.5%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.3%
−5.0 ptssince 2011
from 8.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 58.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.5%
−24.2 ptssince 2009
from 60.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
Female
51.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
Foreign born
1.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.1%
−40.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.6%
−0.8 ptssince 2012
from 18.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.0%
−80.4 ptssince 2013
from 86.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.9%
+18.3 ptssince 2017
from 68.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.2%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 97.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 1.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

PaducahCENTRAL26,730
What's inside

5 component counties

McCracken CountyCENTRAL67,553Massac County13,502Livingston County8,863Ballard County7,594Carlisle County4,747
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Paducah

Lima
Pop 100,881
Albertville
Pop 103,537
Decatur
Pop 99,300
Bay City
Pop 102,123
Places similar to Paducah
Head to head

Compare Paducah side by side

PADUCAH VS
Lima
Income$64,038same
Home value$165,300−1%
Population100,881−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PADUCAH VS
Albertville
Income$62,571−2%
Home value$201,500+20%
Population103,537+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PADUCAH VS
Decatur
Income$62,666−2%
Home value$127,300−24%
Population99,300−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PADUCAH VS
Bay City
Income$61,763−4%
Home value$152,200−9%
Population102,123same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Paducah, KY-IL?

Paducah, KY-IL has about 102,748 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Paducah, KY-IL?

The typical household in Paducah, KY-IL earns about $64,050 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Paducah, KY-IL expensive?

In Paducah, KY-IL, the median home is worth about $167,463, and the typical rent is about $870 a month.

How educated are people in Paducah, KY-IL?

About 24.7% of adults age 25 and over in Paducah, KY-IL hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Paducah, KY-IL?

About 15.7% of people in Paducah, KY-IL live below the federal poverty line.

Has Paducah, KY-IL grown since 1990?

Yes, Paducah, KY-IL has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,915 residents, a change of about 3 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 →