Living in Bowling Green, Kentucky
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Bowling Green · Census data 2020–2024
Bowling Green has 75,388 residents with a median age of 28.7. The median household income is $48,873 (23% lower than the Kentucky median), the median home value is $241,900, the median rent is $998/month.
Bowling Green at a glance
- Population
- 75,388
- Median age
- 28.7State: 39.1
- Median household income
- $48,873State: $63,726
- Median home value
- $241,900State: $205,600
- Median rent
- $998/moState: $967
- Homeowners
- 36.6%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 31.2%
- Average commute
- 18 min
Is Bowling Green a good place to live?
Pros: An average commute of 18 minutes; unemployment of 4.9%.
Cons: Median household income 23% lower than the Kentucky median; home values 18% higher than the state median; a poverty rate of 25.6%.
The weather is best in June to September.
Cost of living in Bowling Green
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Bowling Green the median home value is $241,900, 27% lower than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $998 per month, which is 30.3% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,447 a month in housing costs.
Bowling Green median household income
The median household income in Bowling Green is $48,873 and the income per person is $28,971. 25.6% of residents live below the poverty line (Kentucky: 16.1%).
Housing in Bowling Green: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 33,481
- Owner-occupied
- 36.6%
- Renter-occupied
- 63.4%
- Vacant
- 8.5%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1991
- Average household size
- 2.28
Bowling Green demographics
- Population
- 75,388
- Median age
- 28.7
- Under 18
- 22.7%
- 65 and older
- 11.4%
- Households
- 30,633
- Foreign-born
- 15%
- Veterans
- 4.8%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Bowling Green ›
Education in Bowling Green
31.2% of adults 25 and older in Bowling Green have a bachelor's degree or higher (Kentucky: 27.6%), and 13.2% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Bowling Green
- Unemployment rate
- 4.9%State: 4.9%
- Average commute
- 18 minState: 24 min
- Work from home
- 6.3%
- Drive alone
- 71.5%
- Public transit
- 0.2%
- Walk to work
- 5.6%
- Homes with broadband
- 90%
Bowling Green vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | 75,388 | $48,873 | $241,900 | $998 |
| Plum Springs | 405 | $61,635 | $163,000 | $910 |
| Plano | 1,290 | $80,188 | $226,300 | — |
| Woodburn | 319 | $85,625 | $181,300 | — |
| Oakland | 280 | $67,188 | $164,800 | — |
| Smiths Grove | 786 | $53,098 | $164,500 | $1,293 |
| Auburn | 1,794 | $53,897 | $122,900 | $776 |
| Brownsville | 1,068 | $35,481 | $161,000 | $675 |
| Franklin | 10,360 | $59,052 | $195,400 | $1,010 |
More for people moving to Bowling Green
Bowling Green ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Bowling Green: FAQ
What is the median household income in Bowling Green, KY?
The median household income in Bowling Green is $48,873, 23% lower than the Kentucky median of $63,726 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Bowling Green?
The median home value in Bowling Green is $241,900, compared with $205,600 in Kentucky.
How much is rent in Bowling Green?
The median gross rent in Bowling Green is $998 per month, about 30.3% of household income.
Is Bowling Green, KY a good place to live?
Pluses: an average commute of 18 minutes; unemployment of 4.9%. Minuses: median household income 23% lower than the Kentucky median; home values 18% higher than the state median; a poverty rate of 25.6%.
What is the median age in Bowling Green?
The median age in Bowling Green is 28.7 years (Kentucky: 39.1).
How long is the commute in Bowling Green?
The average commute to work in Bowling Green is 18 minutes; 6.3% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Bowling Green?
The unemployment rate in Bowling Green is 4.9% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Bowling Green?
31.2% of adults in Bowling Green have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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