Relocation profile · Federal data
Paducah, KY-IL
BEA RPP 86.1 ranks #25 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
- 86.1
- Cost index (US=100)
- $969
- 2BR rent / mo
- $62,516
- Median salary
- 61.6
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Paducah ranks #38 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (61.6/100), with its strongest marks in housing and cost of living.
- #38
- of 387 US metros · Excellent
- 4,588,372
- metro-area population
- 225
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,395
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: job market (22/100). 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), Paducah ranks #38 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 86.1 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $969/mo, median salary $62,516; LiveAbility Score 61.6/100, strongest in housing and cost of living.
Signature: BEA RPP 86.1 ranks #25 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 86.1 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $969/mo.
LiveAbility 61.6/100 puts Paducah in the top third (#38 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Paducah area is 43,110.
Paducah 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)
62 Top 10% higher than 90% 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
Paducah housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Paducah MSA; housing RPP 48.8 (100 = national average); 2BR $969/mo.
Paducah wages and employment
Paducah posts 43,110 total employment with median salary $62,516 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | $28,390 |
| Registered Nurses | $79,920 |
| General and Operations Managers | $75,470 |
| Cashiers | $28,550 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,640 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Paducah area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Paducah area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Paducah's composite Life Score is 68.2/100 (C+), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Paducah ranks #38 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 61.6/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Paducah - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Housing
Housing
96 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
94 /100
- Safety
Safety
77 /100
- Air quality
Air quality
54 /100
- Climate
Climate
50 /100
- Schools
Schools
47 /100
- Low hazard 28
Low hazard
28 /100
- Job market 22
Job market
22 /100
What this shows Paducah's strongest dimensions are housing and cost of living; its weakest among scored dims is job market at 22/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Metros near Paducah on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Paducah on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Paducah cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Paducah 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 Paducah?
Paducah runs a $62,516 median salary at a 86.1 cost index, ranking #38 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Paducah's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Paducah head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Paducah
- 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.