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Living in
Bowling Green.
About
Life in Bowling Green
Bowling Green offers a practical living environment for people seeking affordable housing and stable employment in a mid-sized city without major urban density. The job market centers on manufacturing—particularly the GM plant and its suppliers—plus Western Kentucky University, which provides steady professional positions. Housing is genuinely affordable compared to national standards, and the 18.8-minute average commute is reasonable.
Bowling Green at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
28.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
25.6%
Foreign-Born
15.0%
Broadband Internet
90.0%
of households
Population Growth
+8.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics15.0% foreign-born, most often from Burma (Myanmar)
Who lives in Bowling Green: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bowling Green, the largest foreign-born group is from Burma (Myanmar) (17.0%), and 7.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.7%
of residents
65 and Older
11.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.4%
of households
Married Couples
32.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.28
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for KY
Rent, home values, and income in Bowling Green
In Bowling Green, home values are 18% above the KY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
90.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,807
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
36.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1991
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $280,339 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for KY
Unemployment in Bowling Green
Unemployment in Bowling Green is close to the KY average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Bowling Green Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.8 min avg
How Bowling Green residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bowling Green, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 83% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 61 mi
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Major hub12.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 43% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Bowling Green runs 43% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
186.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,284.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Bowling Green Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
88.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Warren County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Warren County, which includes Bowling Green, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2024 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2020 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $255,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $130,000 |
| 2018 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $395,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Warren County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Warren County, which includes Bowling Green, is typically good — 284 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
284
per year
Moderate Days
81
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Warren County, county-wide
Climate89°F summers, 30°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bowling Green has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and cold winters (avg low 30°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
70°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
49°/30°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.1"
Annual Snowfall
8.5"
Hot Days/Year
47
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
81
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
126
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 28°F | 3.64" |
| Feb | 51°F | 31°F | 4.07" |
| Mar | 60°F | 38°F | 4.54" |
| Apr | 71°F | 47°F | 4.81" |
| May | 79°F | 57°F | 5.03" |
| Jun | 87°F | 66°F | 4.51" |
| Jul | 90°F | 70°F | 4.26" |
| Aug | 89°F | 68°F | 3.89" |
| Sep | 83°F | 60°F | 3.64" |
| Oct | 72°F | 48°F | 3.63" |
| Nov | 59°F | 38°F | 3.73" |
| Dec | 49°F | 32°F | 4.35" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bowling Green
Bowling Green has 3 hospitals, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
10.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
The Medical Center (bowling Green)
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Tristar Greenview Regional Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Rivendell Behavioral Health Services
Psychiatric
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bowling Green
Bowling Green's student/teacher ratio is 16.0:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 31.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
32
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
31.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Bowling Green
Public · 4-year · 12,155 students · in-state tuition $12,072 · 54% graduate · median earnings $48,408 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mammoth Cave National Park, 23 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bowling Green
Bowling Green has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mammoth Cave National Park (23 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mammoth Cave National Park
National Park
23 mi awayAbraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
National Historical Park
59 mi awayStones River National Battlefield
National Battlefield
76 mi awayLincoln Boyhood National Memorial
National Memorial
85 mi awayFort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
89 mi awayMill Springs Battlefield National Monument
National Monument
94 mi awayPublic Libraries in Bowling Green
Warren County Public Library
1225 State Street, Bowling Green
Bob Kirby Branch
175 Iron Skillet Court, Bowling Green
Cities Near Bowling Green
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Bowling Green?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Bowling Green FAQ
Is Bowling Green, Kentucky affordable?⌄
Bowling Green's median rent is $998/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $48,873/year. Median home value is $241,900.
Is Bowling Green, Kentucky safe?⌄
Bowling Green's violent crime rate was 187 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2284 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bowling Green, Kentucky?⌄
Bowling Green has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bowling Green, Kentucky?⌄
The cost of living in Bowling Green is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $998/month and median household income is $48,873/year. The median home value is $241,900. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bowling Green, Kentucky?⌄
The average commute in Bowling Green is 18 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from