← Map/← Kentucky/Counties/Owen

Owen
Kentucky

11K

Population

$56K

Median Income

$183K

Median Home

R+59

Politics

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What stands out

If you had to describe Owen County in numbers, start here: the overdose death rate is among the lowest in America (-999 per 100,000), homeownership is in the top 3% of American counties (86%), and home internet speed is in the bottom 4% of American counties (63 Mbps). Within Kentucky it ranks 10th of 120 counties for the overdose death rate, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Owen County, Kentucky. 11,229 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.2% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +59).

Kentucky moved to a flat income tax, 3.5% for 2026, and exempts the first $31,110 of pension and retirement income per person. It has an inheritance tax, but spouses, children, parents and siblings are exempt. Home prices are among the lowest in the country outside Louisville and Lexington, and the state has some of the cheapest electricity, much of it still coal-fired.

Money

The typical household here brings in $56,485 a year, lower than 63% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $50,249. Unemployment runs 3.4%, lower than 52% of American counties. 9% of workers work from home.

Kentucky takes 3.5% of that median income in state income tax, about $1,977 a year.

Home

The median home costs $181K, cheaper than 71% of American counties, about 2.0 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $847 a month. Property tax is 0.74% of home value, roughly $1,116 a year on that median home, lower than 61% of American counties. 86% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 4.7 per 1,000 residents, higher than 89% of American counties.

A child born here can expect to live 73.0 years, shorter than 80% of American counties. There are 7 active physicians in the county, about 6.2 per 10,000 people. 9.0% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.91 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 61% of American counties. 84% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 59 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 65% of eligible voters turned out. Under Kentucky law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and marijuana is medical only.

Weather and risk

The year averages 56°F, highs near 66 and lows near 46, warmer than 51% of American counties. About 56 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 20 out of 100, safer than 80% of American counties; the county has had 23 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 63 Mbps down, slower than 96% of American counties. There are 2 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.5 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people.

Written from the figures below. Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure; missing figures are left out rather than guessed.

Economy

Median Household Income$56K
This county
national avg ~$75K
Poverty Rate14.6%
This county
national avg ~11.5%
Unemployment Rate3.4%
This county
national avg ~3.8%
GDP per Capita$21,372
Federal Spending per Capita$27
Median Individual Earnings$42K
This county
national avg $45K
Professional/Management Workers29.5%
Average Adjusted Gross Income$58K
Avg Credit Score655
Work From Home %9.3%
This county
national avg 17.0%
Population Under 1821.7%
This county
national avg 22.0%
Single-Person Households28.2%
This county
national avg 28.0%
Banks & Finance Firms3
Income (20th Percentile)$23K
Income (80th Percentile)$111K
Income (95th Percentile)$186K
Bachelor's Degree or Higher18.9%
This county
national avg 34.3%
Less Than High School16.2%
This county
national avg 11.0%
Knowledge Economy GDP %5.7%
Dependency Ratio0.70
Medicare Spending / Person$3,570
SS Benefits / Person$4,155
Education Wage Premium1.75x
Median Earnings (Bachelor's)$49K
Median Earnings (Graduate)$68K
Median Earnings (HS Diploma)$39K
Public Assistance Recipients1.1%
Average Annual Wage$50K
Professional Services Concentration0.17x national
This county
1.0 = national average share
Federal Government Jobs Located Here16
Federal Share of Jobs Located Here1.0%
Residents Who Work for the Federal Government1.3%
Federal Civilian Share of Earnings1.2%
Federal Contract Dollars Performed Here (FY2025)$22,200
Contract Dollars Relative to Local Wages0.00x wages
Largest Award's Share of Contract Dollars100%
Oil and Gas Share of Earnings (incl. proprietors)0.0%

Housing

Sources: Zillow ZHVI · Census ACS 2022 · Tax Foundation 2023 (effective rates)

Median Home Value$183K
This county
$215K state avg
$303K national
Market Rent (ZORI)$827/mo
This county
$1050/mo state avg
$1400/mo national
Property Tax Rate0.74%
This county
0.78% state avg
1.10% national

Annual tax on median home: $1,116

Affordability & Supply

HUD Fair Market Rent (2BR)$995/mo
Home Price Change (1 yr)+3.8%−+12.9% since 2022
Home Value to Income Ratio2.0x income
Severely Cost-Burdened Households9.1%
Homeownership Rate85.5%
This county
national avg ~65%

Market Activity

Sources: Zillow Research monthly · Redfin

Listings with Price Cuts— High — sellers are negotiating
25.1%
Active Listings
57
New Listings / Month
12

Source: Zillow Research · Updated monthly

Days on Market (Redfin)— Slow — buyers have leverage
59 days
Months of Supply (Redfin)— Balanced market
3.8 mo
Sold Above List (Redfin)
8.3%
Sale-to-List Ratio (Redfin)— Buyers market — homes selling below list
93.9%

Source: Redfin · Updated monthly

Health

Life Expectancy73.0 yrs
This county
national avg ~78.5 years
Food Insecurity11.4%
This county
national avg ~11%
Food Environment Index8.0 / 10
This county
higher = better access
Primary Care Shortage Score7
This county
national avg 5
Mental Health Shortage Score15
Dental Care Shortage Score17
Healthcare Shortage Score13.0
Healthcare Offices8
Active Physicians7
Nursing Home Rating4.0 / 5
This county
national avg ~3 stars
ER Visits per 1,000 Medicare Patients603 / 1,000
Medicare Cost per Beneficiary$11,192
Uninsured (under 65)9.0%
This county
national avg ~10%

Education

Math Test Scores2.91 grade level
Reading Test Scores2.92 grade level
HS Diploma Holders2,780
Bachelor's Degree Holders1,158
HS Completion Rate83.8%
This county
national avg ~85%

Safety

Violent Crime Rate4.7 / 1,000
This county
national avg ~4.0
Drug Overdose Rate54.2 / 100K
This county
national avg ~21/100K
Traffic Fatalities2
Social Vulnerability (CDC SVI)27th pct
Drug Overdose Deaths (2024)-999.0 / 100K
Suicide Rate18.8 / 100K
This county
national avg ~14/100K

Climate & Air Quality

Natural Amenity Scale-0.6
January Sunshine-0.62
January Temperature-0.09
Average Temp56°F+0.9% since 2022
Avg High Temp66°F+0.6% since 2022
Avg Low Temp46°F+1.3% since 2022
Annual Precipitation55.6 in/yr+18% since 2022
Avg Storm Events6.8 storms/yr
Avg Annual Storm Damage$29K
Drought Index (2022)0.39
Heating Degree Days4,633 HDD/yr
This county
national avg ~4,500 HDD/yr
Cooling Degree Days1,337 CDD/yr
This county
national avg ~1,200 CDD/yr
Heating Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)5,040 HDD/yr
Cooling Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)1,074 CDD/yr
Avg Tornadoes / Year0.0
Avg Flood Events / Year1.6
Avg Hail Events / Year0.4
Avg Hurricane Events / Year0.00
Avg Wildfire Events / Year0.0
Avg Winter Storms / Year0.0
Avg Heat Events / Year0.0
Natural Hazard Risk (FEMA)20 / 100
Community Resilience (FEMA)28 / 100
Federal Disaster Declarations23 since 1953
Fine Particulate Pollution (PM2.5)8.3 µg/m³
This county
EPA standard 9 µg/m³

Outdoor & Recreation

Historic Places (NRHP)17 properties
FAA-Registered Airports2 total
Airports (excl. heliports)2 airports

Internet & Remote Work

Download Speed63 Mbps
This county
national avg ~120 Mbps
Upload Speed19 Mbps
Fixed Internet (Q1 2026)351 Mbps
Mobile Internet (Q1 2026)260 Mbps
Mobile Upload (Q1 2026)27 Mbps
Mobile Latency (Q1 2026)34 ms
Households with 100Mbps+75.9%
This county
national avg 75.0%
Cellular-Only Internet18.7%
This county
national avg 8.0%
Fixed Upload Speed (Q1 2026)289 Mbps

Commute & Transit

Remote Workers448 workers
Public Transit Commuters10 workers
Walk to Work (workers)127 workers
Extreme Commutes (90+ min)313 workers
Walk to Work2.6%

Agriculture

Farms297 farms
Farmland2,332 acres

Families & Childcare

Childcare Cost Burden24.0%
This county
national median ~27% of household income
Childcare Centers3.1 per 10K residents

Civic & Community

Voter Turnout64.8%
This county
national avg ~55%
Volunteering Rate1.0%
Income Inequality (Gini)4.897
Nonprofit Organizations57
Veterans Share6.2%
This county
national avg 7.0%
Married Adults54.5%
Never-Married Adults25.3%
Divorced Adults13.1%
Religious Organizations12
Asian Population0.1%
Native American Population0.0%
Membership Associations12.4 per 10K residents

Lifestyle & Services

Full-Service Restaurants0.45 per 1K residents
Grocery Stores3
Recreation Businesses3
Professional Services Firms6
Debt Burden
Avg Mortgage Balance$53K
Avg Student Loan Balance$9K
Avg Credit Card Balance$3K
Loan Delinquency Rate51.1%
This county
national avg 4.0%

Innovation

Inventor Rate0.23%

Politics

R+59

2024 Presidential · Kentucky was R+26 statewide

vs Kentucky State

Income tax
4%Same (state law)
Property tax
0.74%0.78% state avg
Politics
R+59R+26
COL Index
85state index (no county figure)

Population & Migration

Net Domestic Migration 2023

↑ +59

More people arriving than leaving

IRS Wealth Migration

Lower-income migration pattern (IRS: 0.93x avg income)

Economic Mobility

40%

chance a low-income child reaches the middle class

Source: Opportunity Insights

Real Estate

Find Homes in Owen County

Median home value: $181K

View on Zillow →View on Realtor.com →

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Full Kentucky profile

Taxes, cost of living, crime, schools, gun laws and more.

View Kentucky →

Data: Census ACS, BLS, Zillow, USDA Natural Amenities, OpenElections 2024, CMS, NCES. Vintage 2022–2025. News via Google News.

Your Priorities

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Quick Profiles

Dial in your priorities

Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care

State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care

Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care

Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care

Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care

Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

Don't care

Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable