Dawson Springs: Economy & Jobs
Dawson Springs reports a median household income of $32,838 (1.7× below Hopkins County median $56,815; 1.9× below Kentucky median $63,726), with homes at a median value of $70,000. The surrounding county supports 4,693 jobs (avg $43,790).
- $53,817 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income (vs Kentucky $79,007).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $32,838 — below the Kentucky median ($61,166). Poverty rate 30.5% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 28% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 2.1× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 20.0% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 27.6% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 30.5% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 2.2% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $5,480 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $294,918 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $53,817 (vs Kentucky $79,007) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $36,016 |
| Median Household Income | $32,838 (vs Kentucky $61,166) |
| Poverty Rate | 30.5% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | blue_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | lower-income |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $32,838 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 4.1% — near the U.S. average of ~4%. 7% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 7.1% |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Primary Mode | drove alone |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 4,693 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $205,518,119 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $43,790 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 1,963,060 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% (vs Kentucky 3.1%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 38 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 3,958 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 104.20 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Grain, Corn, Soybeans, Wheat |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 273 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 3,456 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 140,644 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 4 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 7 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Funeral Homes | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Commercial Banks | 5 |
| Local Businesses · Insurance Agencies | 5 |
| Local Businesses · Law Offices | 10 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 10 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 11 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 3 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (1)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | DOLLAR GENERAL 779 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 6 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | BOWLING GREEN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $87,133,730 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 6,888.59 (vs Kentucky $7,452) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 12,649 people (vs Kentucky 19,515) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 80.8% |
|---|---|
| Pct Walked | 7.1% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 41.6 years (vs Kentucky 37.2y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 39.3% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | excellent |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12