RANK #105 / 996 · POP 67,573 · KY
PROJECTED GROWTH: +2.8%
McCracken County, Kentucky, is distinguished by Paducah, its county seat, a city recognized as a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art, particularly for its quilting heritage. Located in Western Kentucky at the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers, Paducah is a short drive from larger cities like Nashville and St. Louis. The community offers a blend of historic charm and natural beauty, with the Ohio Riverfront featuring murals and access to the Greenway Trail for walking and biking. Commutes in McCracken County are shorter than the national average, at around 18.7 minutes.
Life in McCracken County is characterized by a lower cost of living compared to the national average, making it an option for families and retirees. The county offers a mix of quiet rural areas and the amenities of Paducah, including parks like Bob Noble Park with its lake and recreational facilities. McCracken County Public Schools are highly rated, and the district has a joint open-enrollment policy with Paducah Public Schools. Recent economic developments in the area include significant investments in energy, such as a uranium enrichment facility, and projects related to data centers.
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 2.2x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility
Global Laser Enrichment (GLE)
|
$1,760M | Planned |
|
AI Data Centers at Paducah Site
US Department of Energy (DOE)
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
McCracken County Solar PV Project
AES (formerly Community Energy)
|
$60M | Planned |
|
Amazon Last-Mile Distribution Facility
Amazon.com Services, LLC
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
McCracken County has a Boom Town Index score of 90/100, ranking #105 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -0.5% and a median household income of $58,490, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in McCracken County is $172,300 with median rent at $849/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3395, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.3% year-over-year. Job growth: -0.5%. Home values changed +3.5% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.28% of McCracken County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.