Signals
Marion-Herrin
Owensboro
Growth
46 · Bottom 44%
vs40 · Bottom 34%
Climate
73 · Top 26%
vs74 · Top 25%
Physical resilience
45 · Bottom 36%
vs38 · Bottom 27%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
97 · Top 12%
vs97 · Top 12%
Economic stability
49 · Bottom 48%
vs59 · Top 40%
Measured values
| Metric | Marion-Herrin | Owensboro | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 66,876 | 112,762 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $65,604 | $68,002 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,284 | $36,319 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 159/sq mi | 159/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $156,400 | $195,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $930 | $907 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 70.7% | 69.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.2% | 25.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | 14.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 141 | 195 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.1 | 1.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 14.6% | -34.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 88°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 26°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.0" | 47.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 21.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.6 | 39.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Marion-Herrin
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, earthquake.
Owensboro
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, strong wind, inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Marion-Herrin
68
Your Score
—
Area Score
Owensboro
64
Your Score
57
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Marion-Herrin, IL Micro Area · Owensboro, KY Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology