The Town FilesOwensboro, Kentucky
City in Daviess County · population 60,183 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $178,900
- Household income
- $56,357
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 37.5
Owensboro is a city of 60,183 people in Daviess County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $178,900, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for cycling than 91% of Kentucky towns, more vibrant than 89% of Kentucky towns, more walkable than 87% of Kentucky towns.
How Owensboro ranks
Percentile among Kentucky towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kentucky towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Owensboro is worth $178,900, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $56,357, which is more affordable than 41% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $905 a month. 57.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Owensboro | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $178,900 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $905 | $837 |
| Median household income | $56,357 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 57.4% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Owensboro
| People | Owensboro | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.1% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.9% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 17.1 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 88.6% |
Weather in Owensboro
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 26.1°F. About 45.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.7 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 83 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Owensboro since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on October 18, 2007 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 64 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 15, 2025.
Severe weather in Daviess County since 1996
Daviess County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4864: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| April 10, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4702: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Daviess County
Daviess County had 47,217 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,566 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Owensboro itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Owensboro
34 public schools with 15,035 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daviess County High School | 9-12 | 1,694 | 18.8 |
| Apollo High School | 9-12 | 1,350 | 16.9 |
| Owensboro High School | 9-12 | 1,329 | 15.5 |
| Daviess County Middle School | 6-8 | 841 | 16.8 |
| College View Middle School | 6-8 | 789 | 15.5 |
| Owensboro Middle School | 6-8 | 786 | 12.9 |
| F T Burns Middle School | 6-8 | 756 | 14.8 |
| Newton Parrish Elementary School | K-5 | 547 | 15.2 |
| Tamarack Elementary School | PK-5 | 542 | 16.4 |
| Sutton Elementary School | K-5 | 514 | 15.1 |
| Deer Park Elementary School | PK-5 | 491 | 18.9 |
| Meadow Lands Elementary School | PK-5 | 471 | 16.2 |
Towns near Owensboro
- Newburgh, IN20.6 mi · 3,344 people · home $237,600
- Boonville, IN22.1 mi · 6,712 people · home $162,400
- Tell City, IN23.8 mi · 7,506 people · home $139,000
- Chandler, IN23.9 mi · 3,693 people · home $131,100
- Hartford, KY24.4 mi · 2,668 people · home $106,900
- Henderson, KY25.9 mi · 27,981 people · home $160,100
- Santa Claus, IN26.9 mi · 2,586 people · home $258,900
- Evansville, IN27.8 mi · 117,298 people · home $143,100
Owensboro questions
Is Owensboro, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Owensboro scores better for retirees than 15% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 10%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Owensboro?
The median owner-occupied home in Owensboro is valued at $178,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,357, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $905 a month.
What is the weather like in Owensboro?
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 26.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.6 inches of precipitation a year and 5.7 inches of snow.
Does Owensboro get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Owensboro since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on October 18, 2007. The typical Kentucky town has had 19.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)