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City · 26,845 residents · McCracken County, Kentucky

Paducah , Kentucky

In Paducah, a typical home is worth $165,300 and typical rent is $834 a month. Compared with all of McCracken County, typical household income is 22% lower, the typical home value is 12% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 14 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $165,300

    12% below the county

    20% below Kentucky

    • Paducah
    • McCracken
    • Kentucky

  • Typical rent

    $834a month

    7% below the county

    14% below Kentucky

    • Paducah
    • McCracken
    • Kentucky

  • Typical household income

    $49,915a year

    22% below the county

    22% below Kentucky

    • Paducah
    • McCracken
    • Kentucky

  • Households that own their home

    55%

    14 points below the county

    13 points below Kentucky

    • Paducah
    • McCracken
    • Kentucky

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$192,711
1.2% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,168 a month
8.5% more than 12 months ago

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

Paducah is in McCracken 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 McCracken County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Paducah 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: 42% less than in Paducah ($165,300).

  2. Nearby, in Mayfield, the typical rent is $644: 23% less than in Paducah ($834).

  3. 55% of households in Paducah own their home, against 69% in McCracken County.

  4. The typical household income in Paducah is $49,915, 22% less than in McCracken County as a whole ($64,373).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Paducah

What homes there are in Paducah, 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

In Paducah, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in McCracken County, 7.

Year built

Homes in Paducah are older: the typical year built is 1967; in McCracken County, 1978.

There are fewer big homes in Paducah than in McCracken County: 44% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 58%.

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 McCracken County is $541,287, and about 95% of owner-occupied homes in Paducah are worth less than that.

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for McCracken County is $1,131; about 75% of rents in Paducah are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,323 a month

McCracken County: $1,364 a month

Without a mortgage

$519 a month

McCracken County: $510 a month

Owners with a mortgage

55%

McCracken County: 52%

In Paducah, 55% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,323 a month, about the same as in McCracken 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

Since 2015–2019, homes in Paducah gained value faster than in McCracken County: 40% against 31%.

The typical rent in Paducah rose 27% since 2015–2019, about the same as in McCracken County (25%).

To compare: typical income in Paducah rose 27%; the home, +40%; the rent, +27%.

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

MeasurePaducahMcCracken CountyKentuckyUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate4.6%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.9%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.1%2.0%3.4%
People per household 2.192.402.432.53
Drive alone 77%82%77%69%
Carpool 7%6%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 5%3%2%3%
Work from home 7%8%10%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.19 on average, against 2.40 in McCracken County.

In Paducah, 77% of workers drive alone to work; in McCracken County, 82%.

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 Paducah?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Paducah, worth $165,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 33% of the typical household income in Paducah, which is $49,915 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $58,166 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Paducah. 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 $5,786 (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

$1,357

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$162,305
Total interest
$233,520
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,791 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,165 a month

  • Tight

    $1,165 to $1,497 a month

    Your payment · 33%

  • Hard

    more than $1,497 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Paducah ($49,915 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,357
Principal & interest$1,100
Property tax$116
Home insurance$69
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$73

You need at least $5,786 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

Paducah and McCracken County

Paducah is in McCracken 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).

Paducah's own numbers

Typical home value
$165,300
Typical monthly rent
$834
Typical yearly household income
$49,915
Households that own their home
55%
Effective property tax rate
0.84%

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

Numbers for all of McCracken County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,131
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+45%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.1%

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 McCracken County.

Everything about McCracken County

Buying

Buying a home in Paducah

A typical home in Paducah is worth $165,300: 12% below the county and 20% below Kentucky. With the typical household income in Paducah ($49,915 a year), a typical home costs 3.3 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.

  • Paducah 3.3 years
  • McCracken 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 McCracken County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in McCracken County rose 64% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Kentucky U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.7% +3.9% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +45% +50% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +64% +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

Paducah next to McCracken 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
  • Paducah $165,300
  • McCracken $188,100
  • Kentucky $205,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Paducah $834
  • McCracken $898
  • Kentucky $967
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Paducah $49,915
  • McCracken $64,373
  • Kentucky $63,726
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Paducah next to McCracken County and Kentucky
Measure Paducah McCracken County Kentucky U.S.
Typical home value $165,300 $188,100 $205,600 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $834 $898 $967 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $49,915 $64,373 $63,726 $80,734
Households that own their home 55% 69% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,390 $1,410 $1,544 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.84% 0.75% 0.75% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 46% 44% 45% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below McCracken 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 Paducah

For a typical $165,300 home in Paducah, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Paducah's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,357a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $5,786
    Cash to close
    $10,745
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $73

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,327a month

    Down payment
    $8,265
    Cash to close
    $13,224
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $79

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,080a month

    Down payment
    $33,060
    Cash to close
    $38,019
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,233a month

    Down payment
    $24,795
    Cash to close
    $29,754
    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 Paducah and for McCracken County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Paducah

0.84%of the home’s value each year

$1,390 a year for the typical owner in Paducah.

  • Paducah 0.84%
  • McCracken 0.75%
  • 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 McCracken County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.1%
569
Of those, with NFIP insurance
23%
County Kentucky U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.1% 3.5% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 23% 19% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Paducah

Typical rent in Paducah is $834 a month: 7% below the county. In Paducah, 46% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of McCracken County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,131 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $21.75 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of McCracken 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 $788 $15.15 $31,520
1 bedroom $924 $17.77 $36,960
2 bedrooms $1,131 $21.75 $45,240
3 bedrooms $1,348 $25.92 $53,920
4 bedrooms $1,616 $31.08 $64,640

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 Paducah

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

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $960 in 42003 to $1,220 in 42001.

1 of the 2 is above the fair market rent for McCracken County ($1,131).

  • 42001 $1,220$1,450
  • 42003 $960$1,150

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Paducah 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 Paducah

HUD lists 17 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Paducah. These are the largest.

  • Elmwood CT 2250 Ohio St, Paducah 42003 452 homes, 429 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of Paducah · Average payment: $331 a month · Average wait: 12 months (270) 443-3634
  • Ella Munal CT 706 Boyd St, Paducah 42001 398 homes, 396 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of Paducah · Average payment: $395 a month · Average wait: 12 months (270) 443-3634
  • Jackson House 301 S 9th St, Paducah 42003 233 homes, 188 low-income · For older adults (270) 442-7591
  • Irvin Cobb Apts. 600 Broadway St, Paducah 42001 104 low-income homes · For older adults (270) 443-4721
  • Dudley Court Apartments 801 McGuire Ave, Paducah 42001 96 homes, 94 low-income · For families (270) 442-5160

See all 17 buildings in McCracken County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Paducah

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 McCracken County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A man leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Paducah

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Paducah or McCracken County. The ones below are statewide in Kentucky: they work in Paducah 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 Paducah

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

  • Kentucky Legal Aid, Incorporated

    216 Berger Rd, Paducah · 1 miles away · Spanish

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

  • Kentucky Legal Aid, Incorporated

    401 W 9th St Ste D, Hopkinsville · 65 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 · 65 miles away · Spanish

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

Every agency in McCracken County All counseling agencies in Kentucky

Help in Spanish near Paducah

3 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 Paducah

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

  • Housing Authority of Paducah Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (270) 443-3634

All housing agencies in Kentucky Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in McCracken County

These cities are also in McCracken County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about McCracken County Housing in Kentucky

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If McCracken 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 Paducah.

All guides
A mother holds hands with her two daughters on the beach at sunset.

Questions

Housing questions about Paducah

Short answers with the numbers for Paducah and all of McCracken 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 Paducah?

The typical home value in Paducah is $165,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in McCracken County it is $188,100.

How much does it cost to rent in Paducah?

Typical rent in Paducah is $834 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in McCracken County is $1,131.

What is the FHA loan limit in Paducah?

Paducah uses the FHA limit for all of McCracken 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 Paducah?

The typical homeowner in Paducah pays $1,390 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.84% of the home’s value; in McCracken County, the rate is 0.75%.

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

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in McCracken 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).