RANK #466 / 1001 NAT · #6 / 19 KY · POP 103,648
1YR FORECAST: +1.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +29%
Daviess County, Kentucky, is known for its distinctive barbecue mutton and its historical role in bourbon distilling. The county seat, Owensboro, sits along the Ohio River, approximately an hour's drive southeast of Evansville, Indiana, and about two hours north of Nashville, Tennessee. The community offers a blend of urban amenities in Owensboro and a more rural feel in its smaller towns like Whitesville and Philpot. Commutes within the county are generally short, ranging from 5 to 20 minutes. The landscape features flat areas near the river and rolling hills to the south, with numerous parks like Yellow Creek and Panther Creek offering hiking, fishing, and disc golf.
Life in Daviess County appeals to families, with public schools in the Daviess County Public School District generally performing above average. The cost of living is lower than the national average. The economy, historically rooted in agriculture and manufacturing, is experiencing growth driven by investments in various sectors. Recent expansions in manufacturing and other industries have created new jobs. The county's river port also plays a role in commerce, facilitating the movement of goods.
Daviess County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.6% runs below the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.7x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Reid - Daviess Co 161 kV Solar Project
Undisclosed
|
$200M | Planned |
|
Owensboro Solar Project
NextEra Energy Resources
|
$150M | Planned |
|
Daviess County RNG Project (Landfill Gas-to-Energy)
Red Tail Renewables / Pacolet Milliken / Inyarek partners (TC Energy for pipeline connection)
|
$50M | Operating |
|
Public Safety Facility (Sheriff's Office, Fire Station, EMA, Backup Dispatch)
Daviess County
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Daviess County scores 53/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#466). Median household income is $68,214 and job growth is running at +1.2%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Daviess County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $199,900 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.34, with rents averaging $918/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Employers in Daviess County are hiring — job growth of +1.2% — but the population is close to flat (+0.4% YoY). Home values moved +1.6% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.48% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Daviess County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.