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CITY

Bowling Green

Missouri · 4,472 residents (2025 est.) · 2.689 sq mi
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The short version

Bowling Green has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,295. Population has grown 28% since 2000. 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $128,800. The poverty rate of 25.8% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
10% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
4,170
+28%since 2000
from 3,260 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,551 / sq mi
+28%since 2000
from 1,212 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
35.7
−2%since 2000
from 36.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:4,472 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3K4K4K5K6K1990201020202024Bowling Green
20244K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,295
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,287 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$20,104
+37%since 2000
from $14,670 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
31.3%
+12.6 ptssince 2009
from 18.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
25.8%
+12.7 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.378
−4%since 2010
from 0.395 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade12.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade7.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Finance & insurance3.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Construction2.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing1.4%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$128,800
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $60,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$800
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $382 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
52.1%
−8.0 ptssince 2000
from 60.2% in 2000
47.9% rent
Vacancy rate
6.9%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
12.0%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
34.2%
+5.7 ptssince 2009
from 28.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.4
+8%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
20
RELATED:See current rent listings in Bowling Green on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.3%(2,943)
Black7.5%(245)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(24)
Asian0.2%(6)
Other0%
Diversity Score19.7%(643)
2024
White, non-Hispanic84.5%(3,523)
Black7.7%(322)
Hispanic / Latino2.8%(117)
Asian0.6%(25)
Other4.4%(183)
Diversity Score34.7%(1,447)
Diversity Score
35
+76%since 2000
from 20 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
10.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 10.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
81.6%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 77.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.0%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.5 min
+60%since 2000
from 14.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.4%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 83.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.0%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.6%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.3%
−2.0 ptssince 2011
from 8.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
41.5%
−7.8 ptssince 2011
from 49.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
20.9%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 18.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.2%
−24.3 ptssince 2009
from 55.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
59.1%
−8.5 ptssince 2009
from 67.6% in 2009
Female
40.9%
+8.5 ptssince 2009
from 32.4% in 2009
Foreign born
2.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.9%
−64.2 ptssince 2009
from 71.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
25.9%
+10.4 ptssince 2012
from 15.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.8%
−83.5 ptssince 2013
from 90.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.4%
+30.3 ptssince 2017
from 61.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.5%
−3.6 ptssince 2016
from 97.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 1.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Bowling Green, Missouri?

Bowling Green, Missouri has about 4,170 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Bowling Green, Missouri?

The typical household in Bowling Green, Missouri earns about $53,295 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bowling Green, Missouri expensive?

In Bowling Green, Missouri, the median home is worth about $128,800, and the typical rent is about $800 a month.

How educated are people in Bowling Green, Missouri?

About 10.0% of adults age 25 and over in Bowling Green, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bowling Green, Missouri?

About 25.8% of people in Bowling Green, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bowling Green, Missouri grown since 1990?

Yes, Bowling Green, Missouri has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,174 residents, a change of about 39 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →