United States › Kentucky › Bowling Green CITY · 2000 CENSUS
Bowling Green Kentucky · 49,296 residents · 41.5 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Bowling Green is home to 49,296 people in Kentucky. 47% of homes are owner-occupied. This skews young, with a median age of 28.6. The poverty rate is 21.8%, above the 12.4% national rate. The population is up 21% since 1990. The median household earns $29,047, about 32% below the national median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 28.6
US median: 35.2
More educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 28%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01
Population & growth from 29.6 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
37K 48K 58K 68K 79K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Bowling Green Age distribution, 2000
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $29,047
+10%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $20,043 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $11,760 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 23.9% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$97,000
+28%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $57,500 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$485
+11%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $332 in 1990
US average: $602
from 50.6% in 1990
53.0% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 86.6%(35,215)
Hispanic / Latino 0.4%(181)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 79.1%(39,010)
Hispanic / Latino 4.1%(2,011)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 1 more asian origin group with data Ancestry
+ 36 more ancestry groups with data from 23.4% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 71.5% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 9.7% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.1 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 41.1%(7,925)
Women 15+
Never married 34.1%(7,343)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 17.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 52.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 11.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 13.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 29.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 62.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 40.6% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 35.1%(974)
Gulf War (1990s) 31.9%(884)
Share of the 2,773 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Bowling Green Head to head
Compare Bowling Green to nearby cities BOWLING GREEN VS
Franklin
Income $59,052 +103%
Home value $195,400 +101%
Population 10,759 −86%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOWLING GREEN VS
Portland
Income $72,647 +150%
Home value $282,200 +191%
Population 13,658 −83%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOWLING GREEN VS
Glasgow
Income $43,074 +48%
Home value $173,900 +79%
Population 15,302 −81%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOWLING GREEN VS
White House
Income $90,019 +210%
Home value $344,800 +255%
Population 17,872 −77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Bowling Green, Kentucky? Bowling Green, Kentucky has about 49,296 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in Bowling Green, Kentucky? The typical household in Bowling Green, Kentucky earns about $29,047 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Bowling Green, Kentucky expensive? In Bowling Green, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $97,000, and the typical rent is about $485 a month.
How educated are people in Bowling Green, Kentucky? About 26.9% of adults age 25 and over in Bowling Green, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Bowling Green, Kentucky? About 21.8% of people in Bowling Green, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.
Has Bowling Green, Kentucky grown since 1990? Yes, Bowling Green, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 8,655 residents, a change of about 21 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 