The Town FilesPaducah, Kentucky
City in McCracken County · population 27,137 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $165,300
- Household income
- $49,915
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 41.5
Paducah is a city of 27,137 people in McCracken County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $165,300, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks more walkable than 90% of Kentucky towns, more vibrant than 89% of Kentucky towns, better for cycling than 89% of Kentucky towns.
How Paducah 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 Paducah is worth $165,300, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $49,915, which is more affordable than 37% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $834 a month. 55.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Paducah | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,300 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $834 | $837 |
| Median household income | $49,915 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 55.0% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Paducah
| People | Paducah | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.7% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.8% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.3% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 15.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.8% | 88.6% |
Weather in Paducah
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 25.1°F. About 49.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.1 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 83 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paducah since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on November 17, 2013 about 3.7 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 43 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 4, 2012.
Severe weather in McCracken County since 1996
McCracken County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| July 23, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4804: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in McCracken County
McCracken County had 40,497 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,594 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Paducah itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Paducah
19 public schools with 8,995 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| McCracken County High School | 9-12 | 1,958 | 18.1 |
| Paducah Tilghman High School | 9-12 | 840 | 15.0 |
| Lone Oak Middle School | 6-8 | 767 | 15.0 |
| Paducah Middle School | 6-8 | 628 | 15.0 |
| Concord Elementary School | PK-5 | 609 | 16.0 |
| Clark Elementary School | K-5 | 608 | 16.0 |
| Reidland Elementary School | PK-3 | 566 | 14.2 |
| Lone Oak Elementary School | PK-3 | 538 | 16.3 |
| Hendron Lone Oak Elementary School | PK-3 | 489 | 16.3 |
| Lone Oak Intermediate School | 4-5 | 426 | 16.4 |
| Morgan Elementary School | K-5 | 375 | 12.1 |
| McNabb Elementary School | K-5 | 347 | 14.5 |
Towns near Paducah
- Hendron, KY2.6 mi · 4,774 people · home $213,900
- Massac, KY3.5 mi · 4,635 people · home $239,400
- Farley, KY4.5 mi · 4,374 people · home $86,300
- Metropolis, IL5.9 mi · 5,969 people · home $86,000
- Reidland, KY7.8 mi · 4,526 people · home $228,000
- Calvert City, KY13.8 mi · 2,514 people · home $165,700
- Benton, KY21.9 mi · 4,756 people · home $157,000
- Mayfield, KY23.0 mi · 10,017 people · home $112,500
Paducah questions
Is Paducah, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Paducah scores better for retirees than 12% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 20%. 17.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.5).
How much does a house cost in Paducah?
The median owner-occupied home in Paducah is valued at $165,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,915, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $834 a month.
What is the weather like in Paducah?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 25.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.1 inches of precipitation a year and 3.1 inches of snow.
Does Paducah get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paducah since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on November 17, 2013. 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)