City safety & data profile

PaducahKY

Paducah, KY is a 25K-resident city in McCracken County with a median household income of $49,915.

McCracken County, Kentucky. Federal health, economic, and safety indicators for Paducah, drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, CDC PLACES, and CMS Hospital Compare. Paducah has a population larger than 55% of the 4,640 U.S. cities Areazine tracks, a median home value of $165,300, and 2 hospitals serving the surrounding area.

Data updated 2026-07-20

25K
Population
Top 45%
By size
$49,915
Median income
$165,300
Median home
22.3%
Poverty rate

The read on Paducah

Paducah posts a median household income higher than 9% of U.S. cities Areazine tracks, where 2 hospitals serve the Paducah area.

Top 91%
by median income, US cities
2
hospitals in & near Paducah

Where Paducah income ranks nationally

Median household income vs. every place Areazine profiles (place-level ACS)

$49,915 Bottom 9% higher than 9% of 3,889 places Areazine profiles

$0–$20,000: 0 places Areazine profiles (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 71 places Areazine profiles (2%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 788 places Areazine profiles (20%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 1,055 places Areazine profiles (27%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 768 places Areazine profiles (20%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 515 places Areazine profiles (13%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 308 places Areazine profiles (8%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 171 places Areazine profiles (4%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 92 places Areazine profiles (2%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 47 places Areazine profiles (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 28 places Areazine profiles (1%). Above this entry. $220,000–$240,000: 18 places Areazine profiles (0%). Above this entry. $240,000–$260,000: 28 places Areazine profiles (1%). Above this entry. KY $0 $260,000 every profiled place, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more places Areazine profiles. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (place-level) · 2024 ACS 5-year

The quick read

Reading Paducah, KY beyond the headline numbers

Paducah sits inside McCracken County, Kentucky, at roughly 37.08°N, -88.60°W. Population 24,864, $49,915 median household income. Median home value $165,300, median rent $834. Poverty rate 22.3%, read against that income figure since two cities on the same median can differ underneath it.

CDC PLACES: Paducah's highest-prevalence health measure is short sleep duration at 42.7%. 2 hospitals in/around Paducah, 3.5/5 avg rating, 2 with an ER.

Sources: U.S. Census ACS, CDC PLACES, CMS Hospital Compare, plus live alerts for Paducah from FEMA, NOAA, FDA, and CPSC. Comparison bars benchmark each metric against the national reference.

Population
24,864
Paducah
Median Income
$49,915
-27% vs avg
Median Home Value
$165,300
-27% vs avg
Median Age
41.5
years

10-Year Trends 2013–2024

County-level trend (McCracken County) - Paducah's own historical series isn't separately published by the Census Bureau, so these year-over-year figures track the surrounding county, not the city alone.

20132024
Population
68K+3%
Median Income
$64,373+43%
Median Home Value
$188,100+60%
Poverty Rate
15.2%-6%
Unemployment
3.2%-61%

Economics

Economics indicators for Paducah, KY
IndicatorValue
Median Rent
$834/mo
Poverty Rate
22.3% +57% vs avg
Unemployment 4%
Bachelor's Degree+ 28.8%
Work From Home 7%
Public Transit 1.3%

Population

White 70.2%
African American 19.2%
Asian 1.4%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.1%

Health Profile 2 measures

Health Indicators

Short Sleep Duration
42.7%

Preventive Care

Dental Visit 54.4%

Hospitals 2 total

Rating Distribution
★★★★★
0
★★★★
1
★★★
1
★★
0
0
Average Rating
3.5/5
Total Hospitals
2
With ER
2
BAPTIST HEALTH PADUCAH
PADUCAH · Acute Care Hospitals · ER
★★★★☆
MERCY HEALTH - LOURDES HOSPITAL
PADUCAH · Acute Care Hospitals · ER
★★★☆☆

Frequently Asked Questions 6

What is the population of Paducah, KY?
Paducah, KY has a population of 24,864 people, located in McCracken County, Kentucky.
What is the median household income in Paducah?
The median household income in Paducah, KY is $49,915 per year, per the U.S. Census ACS. The poverty rate is 22.3%.
What is the median home value in Paducah?
The median home value in Paducah, KY is $165,300. Median rent is $834/month.
What are the top health concerns in Paducah?
The top health indicators in Paducah include Short Sleep Duration (42.7%). Data from CDC PLACES.
How many hospitals are in Paducah?
Paducah has 2 hospitals with an average rating of 3.5/5 stars. 2 have emergency departments.
What is the median age in Paducah?
The median age in Paducah, KY is 41.5 years. 28.8% of residents have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Safety Context

Paducah, KY is located in McCracken County, Kentucky. With a population of 25K and a $49,915 median household income, the community faces health challenges including short sleep duration. Residents have access to 2 hospitals with an average rating of 3.5/5 stars. Safety alerts for the Paducah area are monitored from federal and state agencies including FEMA, NOAA, FDA, and CPSC.

Safety Guides

Primary source data

Nearby Cities 8

Using Paducah's profile

Use this as a starting research checklist, not a verdict on whether to live here.

  • Check live recalls, weather and hazard alerts scoped to the Paducah area before relying on national headlines. Check your area
  • Read the poverty rate alongside the income figure, two places with the same median can have very different realities.
  • Compare Paducah against Kentucky peers on any ranking lens. Explore Kentucky

Population and economics (income, home value, poverty, education) are place-level U.S. Census ACS; health is CDC PLACES; hospital counts reflect facilities in and around the city.

Data Sources

All data on this page comes from official U.S. government sources. Population and economic data from the Census Bureau American Community Survey (2024 5-year estimates, place geography). Health data from the CDC PLACES program (2023). Hospital ratings from CMS Hospital Compare (2024). Climate data from NOAA. Education data from NCES. Cost of living from Bureau of Economic Analysis. Crime statistics, where referenced on Areazine, originate from the FBI Crime Data Explorer. Housing market figures referenced on Areazine come from HUD Fair Market Rents. Census economics and population are at place geography; some health and hospital indicators are reported at the county level (McCracken County) where that is the smallest published unit.

Every figure on Areazine is published directly from official U.S. government sources, no number is typed in by an editor. City demographic and health figures are compiled directly from U.S. Census, CDC, and CMS releases, updated quarterly within 30 days of upstream release. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026.