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Relocation profile · Federal data

Owensboro, KY

BEA RPP 88.6 ranks #68 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).

88.6
Cost index (US=100)
$1,110
2BR rent / mo
$59,581
Median salary
56.2
LiveAbility Score

The verdict

As of June 2026, Owensboro ranks #106 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (56.2/100), with its strongest marks in cost of living and housing.

#106
of 387 US metros · Above median
4,588,372
metro-area population
225
violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
1,395
schools in the state (NCES)

Weakest dimension: job market (13/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.

According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Owensboro ranks #106 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 88.6 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,110/mo, median salary $59,581; LiveAbility Score 56.2/100, strongest in cost of living and housing.

Signature: BEA RPP 88.6 ranks #68 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).

Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 88.6 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,110/mo.

LiveAbility 56.2/100 puts Owensboro in the top third (#106 of 387).

BLS OEWS total employment in the Owensboro area is 41,400.

Owensboro vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score

Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)

56 Top 27% higher than 73% of 387 US metros

Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026

Owensboro housing and rent

HUD Fair Market Rents for the Owensboro MSA; housing RPP 55.7 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,110/mo.

Studio
$840
/month
1 Bedroom
$846
/month
2 Bedroom
$1,110
/month
3 Bedroom
$1,466
/month
4 Bedroom
$1,470
/month

Owensboro wages and employment

Owensboro posts 41,400 total employment with median salary $59,581 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.

Median Salary
$59,581
Mean Salary
$62,787
Total Employment
41,400

Top Occupations by Employment

Occupation Median Salary
Retail Salespersons $29,030
General and Operations Managers $73,460
Home Health and Personal Care Aides $36,100
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand $39,380
Cashiers $27,870

Schools & Education

State-level education data for the Owensboro area from NCES.

Schools
1,395
Enrollment
651,902
Student:Teacher
15.2:1
Title I %
0%

Childcare Costs

State-average childcare costs for the Owensboro area (DOL data).

Infant (Center)
$7,238
per year
Toddler (Center)
$6,605
per year
Preschool (Center)
$6,605
per year

Life Score Breakdown

Owensboro's composite Life Score is 61.7/100 (C), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.

Cost
83/100
Elite
Wages
13/100
Bottom decile
Rent
79/100
Strong
Crime
77/100
Strong
Schools
53/100
Average
Childcare
89/100
Elite
Environment
50/100
Average

LiveAbility Score

View full rankings →

Owensboro ranks #106 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 56.2/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →

Strongest dimension: Cost of living (83/100)

Owensboro - dimension scores

Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)

score

What this shows Owensboro's strongest dimensions are cost of living and housing; its weakest among scored dims is job market at 13/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.

Source BEA · BLS · HUD · FBI · NCES · EPA · NOAA · FEMA As of Federal data, latest available vintage

Compare Owensboro to

Montgomery Morgantown Morristown Mount Vernon-Anacortes Muncie Muskegon-Norton Shores

Metros near Owensboro on cost, LiveAbility, or wages

Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Owensboro on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.

Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)

Similar LiveAbility score

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Owensboro cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Owensboro wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.

Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →

Thinking about Owensboro?

Owensboro runs a $59,581 median salary at a 88.6 cost index, ranking #106 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.

  • See exactly what Owensboro's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
  • Put Owensboro head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Owensboro
  • Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
  • A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide

Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.