Owensboro city, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Owensboro city is a mid-sized community located in Kentucky. The total population is 60,112. It ranks as the 4th most populous out of 552 cities and towns in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Owensboro city is 37.7 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Owensboro city is $53,295. This is 15% lower than the state median of $62,417. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 32% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.9%. This is 23% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. The median home value is $162,900. Housing costs are 15% lower than the state median of $192,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 55.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% lower than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Owensboro city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 6.4%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (3.1% vs 1.5%).

Education

25.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 6% lower than the state rate of 27.0%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Owensboro city, Kentucky is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Kentucky state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky. For official data, visit data.census.gov.