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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Bowling Green Metro

Bowling Green, KY · 4 counties · 179,639 residents · 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 $51,904. Population has grown 33% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $161,495.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 35.7
US median: 38.8
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 28%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
179,639
+33%since 2000
from 134,976 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
111 / sq mi
+33%since 2000
from 84 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
35.7
+6%since 2000
from 33.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
105K128K150K172K194K1990201020202024Bowling Green
2024187K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,904
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,927 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,346
+62%since 2000
from $17,490 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
32.7%
+10.7 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
17.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade16.7%
US avg: 10%
Information12.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services4%
US avg: 6.6%
Transportation & warehousing3%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration2.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction1.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$161,495
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $83,881 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$777
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $442 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
60.3%
−9.1 ptssince 2000
from 69.3% in 2000
39.7% rent
Afford Score
3.1
+26%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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic77.7%(139,587)
Black7.3%(13,121)
Hispanic / Latino6%(10,763)
Asian4.1%(7,396)
Other3.4%(6,079)
Diversity Score45.7%(82,087)
Segregation Score42.2%(75,761)
Diversity Score
46
+112%since 2000
from 22 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
42
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.8%
+8.6 ptssince 2000
from 19.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
86.6%
+11.9 ptssince 2000
from 74.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
11.3%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 7.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.6 min
+48%since 2000
from 15.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
80.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 81.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.8%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.4%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 9.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
64.1%
+1.0 ptssince 2011
from 63.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
32.1%
−28.3 ptssince 2009
from 60.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
7.2%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
5.8%
−79.8 ptssince 2013
from 85.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+23%
Home value$190,386+18%
Population199,668+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOWLING GREEN VS
Auburn
Income$63,755+23%
Home value$247,215+53%
Population208,013+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOWLING GREEN VS
Burlington
Income$65,651+26%
Home value$241,500+50%
Population186,177−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOWLING GREEN VS
Joplin
Income$62,065+20%
Home value$167,644+4%
Population208,796+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Bowling Green, KY?

Bowling Green, KY has about 179,639 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Bowling Green, KY earns about $51,904 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 $161,495, and the typical rent is about $777 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 17.5% 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 66,736 residents, a change of about 59 percent over that period.

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

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