Owensboro
RANK #159 / 996 NAT · #2 / 19 KY · POP 102,916
1YR FORECAST: +2.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +33%
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.
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 3.7x — home prices are low 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.
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 996 counties.
Daviess County ranks #159 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 84/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +2.3% and a median household income of $64,021 point to a county with active economic momentum.
By national standards, Daviess County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $171,100, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $890/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Employers in Daviess County are hiring — job growth of +2.3% — but the population is close to flat (+0.4% YoY). Home values moved +2.0% 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 2.71% 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.