United States › Kentucky › Bowling Green CITY · 2020 ACS
Bowling Green Kentucky · 72,294 residents · 41.5 sq mi
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The short version
Bowling Green is a city of 72,294 people in Kentucky. 36% of homes are owner-occupied. This skews young, with a median age of 29.5. The population is up 47% since 2000. People stay put here: 70% were in the same home a year ago. The poverty rate is 25.9%, above the 12.8% national rate.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 29.5
US median: 38.8
Average education
32% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 28.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
37K 48K 58K 68K 79K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Bowling Green Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $42,044
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,047 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $17,621 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 18.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 21.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 4.6%
Transportation & warehousing 3.3%
Public administration 2.3%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.8%
Education & health services 0.3%
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$168,000
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $97,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$815
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $485 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 47.0% in 2000
63.9% rent
from 2.28 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 3.7 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 79.1%(39,010)
Hispanic / Latino 4.1%(2,011)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 62.7%(45,355)
Hispanic / Latino 9.7%(7,029)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 6 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 1 more asian origin group with data Ancestry
+ 37 more ancestry groups with data from 26.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 77.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 78.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 11.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 64.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 32.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 17.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 50.6%(15,495)
Women 15+
Never married 43.5%(13,213)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 17.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 22.3%(669)
Gulf War (1990s) 25.6%(769)
Share of the 3,001 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.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Bowling Green, Kentucky? Bowling Green, Kentucky has about 72,294 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Bowling Green, Kentucky? The typical household in Bowling Green, Kentucky earns about $42,044 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 $168,000, and the typical rent is about $815 a month.
How educated are people in Bowling Green, Kentucky? About 31.6% 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 25.9% 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 31,653 residents, a change of about 78 percent over that period.
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