Home / Home Buying by state / Kentucky / McCracken County / Paducah

Buying a home in Paducah, Kentucky

The typical owner-occupied home in Paducah is worth about $165,300, 20% below the Kentucky median of $205,600 and 50% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,390 a year in property taxes, about 0.84% of their home's value, higher than the Kentucky rate of 0.75%. The median household earns $49,915 a year, so the median home costs 3.3 times the median income (3.2 times for Kentucky). 55% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 55% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Paducah at a glance

Paducah Kentucky U.S.
Median home value $165,300 $205,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,390 $1,544 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.84% 0.75% 0.94%
Median household income $49,915 $63,726 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 55% 68% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 55% 56% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,323 $1,433 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 19.7% 18.8% 21.0%
Median rent $834 $967 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 28.2% 28.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1967 1982 1980
Vacant homes 15.4% 10.3% 10.1%
Population 26,845 4,534,824 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Paducah

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Paducah home of $165,300 with 20% down costs about $1,074 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,350, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $46,036 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 26% of the median Paducah household income of $49,915; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $179,000.

The median rent here is $834 a month, so owning the median home costs about $240 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$33,060
Loan amount$132,240
Principal and interest$890
Property taxes (0.84% a year)$116
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$69
PMI$0
Total per month$1,074

Change the numbers in the calculator

3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,786
Loan amount$162,306
Principal and interest$1,092
Property taxes (0.84% a year)$116
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$69
FHA mortgage insurance$73
Total per month$1,350

Change the numbers in the calculator

Questions about home buying in Paducah

What is the median home value in Paducah?

About $165,300 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Paducah?

Homeowners pay a median $1,390 a year, which is about 0.84% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Paducah?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,074 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $46,036 a year.

More about Paducah

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data