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METRO AREA

Bowling Green Metro

Bowling Green, KY · 4 counties · 197,180 residents (2025 est.) · 1,614.366 sq mi
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The short version

Bowling Green has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $63,933. Population has grown 39% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $234,323.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 53%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
186,959
+39%since 2000
from 134,976 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
116 / sq mi
+39%since 2000
from 84 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
35.5
+5%since 2000
from 33.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:197,180 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
105K128K150K172K194K1990201020202024Bowling Green
2024187K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$63,933
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,927 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,032
+95%since 2000
from $17,490 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.0%
+21.0 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.469
+4%since 2010
from 0.453 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction1.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$234,323
+53%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $83,881 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$948
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $442 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
60.6%
−8.7 ptssince 2000
from 69.3% in 2000
39.4% rent
Vacancy rate
9.3%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.0%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 20.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 41.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.7
+48%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
62
RELATED:See current rent listings in Bowling Green on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.5%(120,761)
Black6.1%(8,237)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(2,813)
Asian1%(1,301)
Other0%
Diversity Score21.6%(29,120)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic78.3%(146,372)
Black6.9%(12,971)
Hispanic / Latino6.1%(11,497)
Asian3.9%(7,205)
Other4.8%(8,914)
Diversity Score46.8%(87,567)
Segregation Score40.9%(76,447)
Diversity Score
47
+117%since 2000
from 22 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
41
−3%since 2020
from 42 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.8%
+8.7 ptssince 2000
from 19.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.5%
+12.8 ptssince 2000
from 74.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.9%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 7.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.4 min
+46%since 2000
from 15.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.7%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 81.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.0%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.9%
−4.7 ptssince 2011
from 9.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2011
from 63.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.6%
−26.8 ptssince 2009
from 60.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
50.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
8.2%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.5%
−41.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2012
from 15.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.1%
−77.5 ptssince 2013
from 85.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.3%
+14.3 ptssince 2017
from 75.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
86.9%
−3.2 ptssince 2016
from 90.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.3%
+0.8 ptssince 2016
from 3.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Bowling GreenCENTRAL78,505
What's inside

4 component counties

Warren CountyCENTRAL149,375Allen County22,536Edmonson County12,749Butler County12,520
Drill deeper

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Frequently asked

How many people live in Bowling Green, KY?

Bowling Green, KY has about 186,959 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Bowling Green, KY earns about $63,933 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bowling Green, KY expensive?

In Bowling Green, KY, the median home is worth about $234,323, and the typical rent is about $948 a month.

How educated are people in Bowling Green, KY?

About 27.8% of adults age 25 and over in Bowling Green, KY hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bowling Green, KY?

About 16.7% of people in Bowling Green, KY live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bowling Green, KY grown since 1990?

Yes, Bowling Green, KY has grown since 1990. The population has added about 74,056 residents, a change of about 66 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →