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City · 60,302 residents · Daviess County, Kentucky

Owensboro , Kentucky

In Owensboro, a typical home is worth $178,900 and typical rent is $905 a month. Compared with all of Daviess County, typical household income is 17% lower, the typical home value is 11% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 11 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $178,900

    11% below the county

    13% below Kentucky

    • Owensboro
    • Daviess
    • Kentucky

  • Typical rent

    $905a month

    About the same as the county

    6% below Kentucky

    • Owensboro
    • Daviess
    • Kentucky

  • Typical household income

    $56,357a year

    17% below the county

    12% below Kentucky

    • Owensboro
    • Daviess
    • Kentucky

  • Households that own their home

    57%

    11 points below the county

    11 points below Kentucky

    • Owensboro
    • Daviess
    • Kentucky

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$213,413
4.8% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,259 a month
3.3% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Owensboro is in Daviess County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Daviess County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Owensboro apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Princeton, the typical home value is $96,600: 46% less than in Owensboro ($178,900).

  2. Nearby, in Leitchfield, the typical rent is $621: 31% less than in Owensboro ($905).

  3. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Owensboro rose 4.8%; in Kentucky, it barely changed.

  4. The typical household income in Owensboro is $56,357, 17% less than in Daviess County as a whole ($68,214).

  5. 57% of households in Owensboro own their home, against 68% in Daviess County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Owensboro

What homes there are in Owensboro, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is still the most common home in Owensboro, but it weighs less than in Daviess County: 70% against 75%.

Year built

The typical home in Owensboro was built in 1972, 5 years before the typical one in Daviess County.

In Owensboro, 13% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 59% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 68% in Daviess County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA loan limit for Daviess County is $541,287, and about 97% of owner-occupied homes in Owensboro are worth less than that.

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Owensboro cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,138): about 71%.

With a mortgage

$1,321 a month

Daviess County: $1,387 a month

Without a mortgage

$522 a month

Daviess County: $512 a month

Owners with a mortgage

58%

Daviess County: 59%

In Owensboro, 58% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,321 a month, about the same as in Daviess County.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Owensboro rose 58% since 2015–2019, more than in Daviess County (50%).

The typical rent in Owensboro rose 18% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Daviess County (19%).

While home values in Owensboro changed +58% and rent +18%, the typical household income rose 30%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureOwensboroDaviess CountyKentuckyUnited States
Rental vacancy 4.8%4.2%4.6%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.5%0.9%0.9%
More than one person per room 3.4%3.1%2.0%3.4%
People per household 2.302.432.432.53
Drive alone 82%84%77%69%
Carpool 8%7%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 2%2%2%3%
Work from home 7%6%10%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

In Owensboro, the rental vacancy rate is 4.8%, about the same as in Daviess County.

Much as in Daviess County, 3.4% of households in Owensboro have more than one person per room.

Households in Owensboro are smaller: 2.30 people on average; in Daviess County, 2.43.

In Owensboro, 82% of workers drive alone to work; in Daviess County, 84%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Owensboro?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Owensboro, worth $178,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 32% of the typical household income in Owensboro, which is $56,357 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $63,463 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Daviess County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Owensboro. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $6,262 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,481

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$175,659
Total interest
$252,732
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,021 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,315 a month

  • Tight

    $1,315 to $1,691 a month

    Your payment · 32%

  • Hard

    more than $1,691 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Owensboro ($56,357 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,481
Principal & interest$1,190
Property tax$137
Home insurance$75
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$79

You need at least $6,262 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Owensboro and Daviess County

Owensboro is in Daviess County, Kentucky. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Owensboro's own numbers

Typical home value
$178,900
Typical monthly rent
$905
Typical yearly household income
$56,357
Households that own their home
57%
Effective property tax rate
0.92%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Daviess County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,138
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+45%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
11%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Daviess County.

Everything about Daviess County

Buying

Buying a home in Owensboro

A typical home in Owensboro is worth $178,900: 11% below the county and 13% below Kentucky. With the typical household income in Owensboro ($56,357 a year), a typical home costs 3.2 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Owensboro 3.2 years
  • Daviess 2.9 years
  • Kentucky 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Daviess County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Daviess County rose 78% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Daviess County.

Period County Kentucky U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.0% +3.9% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +45% +50% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +78% +84% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Owensboro next to Daviess County, Kentucky and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Owensboro $178,900
  • Daviess $199,900
  • Kentucky $205,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Owensboro $905
  • Daviess $918
  • Kentucky $967
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Owensboro $56,357
  • Daviess $68,214
  • Kentucky $63,726
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Owensboro next to Daviess County and Kentucky
Measure Owensboro Daviess County Kentucky U.S.
Typical home value $178,900 $199,900 $205,600 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $905 $918 $967 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $56,357 $68,214 $63,726 $80,734
Households that own their home 57% 68% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,642 $1,675 $1,544 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.92% 0.84% 0.75% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 44% 42% 45% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Daviess County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Owensboro

For a typical $178,900 home in Owensboro, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Owensboro's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,481a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,262
    Cash to close
    $11,629
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $79

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,448a month

    Down payment
    $8,945
    Cash to close
    $14,312
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $85

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,181a month

    Down payment
    $35,780
    Cash to close
    $41,147
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,347a month

    Down payment
    $26,835
    Cash to close
    $32,202
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Owensboro and for Daviess County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Owensboro

0.92%of the home’s value each year

$1,642 a year for the typical owner in Owensboro.

  • Owensboro 0.92%
  • Daviess 0.84%
  • Kentucky 0.75%

What Kentucky publishes Homestead exemption for owners 65 or older or totally disabled (Kentucky Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Kentucky

Flood risk in Daviess County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Daviess County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
11%
4,096
Of those, with NFIP insurance
12%
County Kentucky U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 11% 3.5% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 12% 19% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Owensboro

Typical rent in Owensboro is $905 a month: about the same as the county. In Owensboro, 44% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Daviess County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,138 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $21.88 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Daviess County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $864 $16.62 $34,560
1 bedroom $870 $16.73 $34,800
2 bedrooms $1,138 $21.88 $45,520
3 bedrooms $1,507 $28.98 $60,280
4 bedrooms $1,516 $29.15 $60,640

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Owensboro

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Owensboro has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,190 in 42301 to $1,230 in 42303.

2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Daviess County ($1,138).

  • 42301 $1,190$1,580
  • 42303 $1,230$1,630

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Owensboro when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Owensboro

HUD lists 21 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Owensboro. These are the largest.

  • Roosevelt House I & II 2920 Yale Pl, Owensboro 42301 231 low-income homes · For older adults (270) 926-1666
  • Lee Manor Apartments 1651 W 4th St, Owensboro 42301 115 low-income homes · For older adults (270) 683-7598
  • Lincolnshire North Apartments 1001 Pennbrooke Ave, Owensboro 42301 108 low-income homes · For families (270) 686-1674
  • Lincolnshire 1001 Pennbrooke Ave, Owensboro 42301 100 low-income homes · For families (270) 686-1674
  • Greentree Apartments 1209 W 7th St, Owensboro 42301 98 low-income homes · For families (270) 683-0664

See all 21 buildings in Daviess County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Owensboro

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Daviess County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A man smiles on a bench outside his apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Owensboro

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Owensboro or Daviess County. The ones below are statewide in Kentucky: they work in Owensboro the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Kentucky

  • KHC Down Payment Assistance (DPA)

    Statewide in Kentucky

    Kentucky state corporation loan of up to $12,500 for the down payment and closing costs, repaid over 15 years as a second loan, for buyers who take a KHC mortgage. Offered by Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Owensboro

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Owensboro, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Kentucky Legal Aid, Incorporated

    117 West 2nd Street, Owensboro · 1 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (270) 782-5740

  • Kentucky Legal Aid, Incorporated

    100 South Railroad Street, # 120, Madisonville · 36 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (270) 782-5740

  • Live the Dream Development, Inc

    247 Double Springs Rd, Bowling Green · 64 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 2 more
    (270) 843-6071

Every agency in Daviess County All counseling agencies in Kentucky

Help in Spanish near Owensboro

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Owensboro

HUD’s record names them for Owensboro or Daviess County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of Owensboro Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (270) 683-5365

All housing agencies in Kentucky Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Owensboro, with the typical home value.

Everything about Daviess County Housing in Kentucky

Neighboring counties

If Daviess County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Owensboro.

All guides
A mother holds her laughing daughter on a grey sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Owensboro

Short answers with the numbers for Owensboro and all of Daviess County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Owensboro?

The typical home value in Owensboro is $178,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Daviess County it is $199,900.

How much does it cost to rent in Owensboro?

Typical rent in Owensboro is $905 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Daviess County is $1,138.

What is the FHA loan limit in Owensboro?

Owensboro uses the FHA limit for all of Daviess County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Owensboro?

The typical homeowner in Owensboro pays $1,642 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.92% of the home’s value; in Daviess County, the rate is 0.84%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Owensboro?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Daviess County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).