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Paducah, KY

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Paducah, KY

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 46
Population26,894
Foreign Born1.4%
Population Density1,321people per mi²
Median Age43.2 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B+
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

66/100

34% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Paducah, Kentucky

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $13k$25k
Comfortable $32k$47k
Luxury $93k+$143k+
Elite (Top 5%) $190k+$295k+
Affordability Ratio

109%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean83%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
13
Negative
7

Groceries

4 within 10 miles

1mi

Gas

20 within 10 miles

1.3mi

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

0.9mi

Airport

BNA — Nashville International

126.9mi

Post Office

USPS — Paducah, KY

0.5mi

Critical Amenities

Golf1Nearest 1.1 mi
Camping11Nearest 5.6 mi
Marina0 
Winery1Nearest 4.4 mi
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range0Nearest 13.5 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C-
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$51k+9.1%
32% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$267k
59% below US avg
College Educated
28.4%
19% below US avg
WFH
6.7%
53% below US avg
Homeownership
54.1%
17% below US avg
Median Home
$165k
42% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
C+
Moderate

Crime rates similar to the national median for U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
25.9
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−22.8%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−16.8%
Homicide
0.04 / 1k Residents46% above state avg
Robbery
0.26 / 1k Residents5% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
1.80 / 1k Residents34% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−28.9%
Burglary
1.69 / 1k Residents6% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
18.57 / 1k Residents117% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
2.67 / 1k Residents47% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+23Solidly Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Paducah, Kentucky
Dem Rep
20%30%40%50%60%70%80%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B+
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C+
Fair9.6% of income
Property Rights
D+
WeakIJ Grade D+
Firearm Rights
A
GreatFPC Grade A
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Importer (60% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
D-
RestrictedLimited
Gambling Laws
C+
LimitedTribal · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
C+
LimitedMedical only

Homesteading

Growing Season234 days306 frost-free
Annual Rainfall51.3"
Elevation384 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
B-
Defensible

Workable tactical position. Some exposure to population density or targets, but generally defensible in a crisis.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
B+
Good825 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,321/sq mi
Fallout Danger
A
Great0 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorEarthquake, Inland Flooding, Heat Wave, Tornado, Cold Wave
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 532 mi · coast 441 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$78.9M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityNashville689k people are 121 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital221 miFrankfort, KY
Nearest Prison24 mi2 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T11:01:31.000Z

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