CensusEasy
METRO AREA · 2010 ACS

Bowling Green Metro

Bowling Green, KY · 4 counties · 158,599 residents · 1,614.366 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Bowling Green has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $41,414. Population has grown 18% since 2000. Median home value is $121,113.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 34.8
US median: 37.2
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
158,599
+18%since 2000
from 134,976 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
98 / sq mi
+18%since 2000
from 84 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
34.8
+3%since 2000
from 33.7 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
105K128K150K172K194K1990201020202024Bowling Green
2024187K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,414
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,927 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,609
+24%since 2000
from $17,490 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
23.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
18.8%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.453
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade17.4%
US avg: 10.9%
Information13.1%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade7.7%
US avg: 7.2%
Other services4.3%
US avg: 7%
Finance & insurance4%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 4.2%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 3.1%
Construction2.3%
US avg: 1.4%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$121,113
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $83,881 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$595
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $442 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
42.9%
−26.4 ptssince 2000
from 69.3% in 2000
34.9% rent
Vacancy rate
11.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
21.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 20.7% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.9%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 41.8% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.9
+18%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic85.7%(135,925)
Black6.7%(10,576)
Hispanic / Latino3.7%(5,893)
Asian2%(3,226)
Other1.5%(2,360)
Diversity Score31.7%(50,198)
Diversity Score
32
+47%since 2000
from 22 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.3%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 19.2% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
81.7%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 74.7% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
8.8%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 7.9% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.8 min
+42%since 2000
from 15.3 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
80.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 81.2% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
12.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
2.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
2.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
6.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
13.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
29.8%
−30.6 ptssince 2009
from 60.4% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
50.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
5.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
9.3%
−39.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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

Metros similar to Bowling Green

Houma
Pop 199,668
Auburn
Pop 208,013
Burlington
Pop 186,177
Joplin
Pop 208,796
Places similar to Bowling Green
Head to head

Compare Bowling Green side by side

BOWLING GREEN VS
Houma
Income$64,027+55%
Home value$190,386+57%
Population199,668+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOWLING GREEN VS
Auburn
Income$63,755+54%
Home value$247,215+104%
Population208,013+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOWLING GREEN VS
Burlington
Income$65,651+59%
Home value$241,500+99%
Population186,177−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOWLING GREEN VS
Joplin
Income$62,065+50%
Home value$167,644+38%
Population208,796+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Bowling Green, KY?

Bowling Green, KY has about 158,599 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Bowling Green, KY earns about $41,414 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 $121,113, and the typical rent is about $595 a month.

How educated are people in Bowling Green, KY?

About 22.3% 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 18.8% 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 45,696 residents, a change of about 40 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Metro rankings
Largest US metrosHighest income metrosFastest growing metros
Compare
Compare Bowling Green with another metro

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

How we source and harmonize this data →