United States › Bowling Green METRO AREA · 2020 ACS
Bowling Green Metro Bowling Green, KY · 4 counties · 179,639 residents · 1,614 sq mi
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The short version
Bowling Green is home to 179,639 people. The population is up 33% since 2000. This skews young, with a median age of 35.7. The typical home is worth $161,495, having more than doubled since 2000. The foreign-born share is 7%. Renters pay $777 a month at the median.
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 111 / sq mi
+33%since 2000
from 84 / sq mi in 2000
from 33.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
105K 128K 150K 172K 194K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Bowling Green Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $51,904
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,927 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $17,490 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 4.9%
Transportation & warehousing 3%
Public administration 2.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 1%
Education & health services 0.9%
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$161,495
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $83,881 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$777
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $442 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 69.3% in 2000
39.7% rent
from 2.45 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.8 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 89.5%(120,761)
Hispanic / Latino 2.1%(2,813)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 77.7%(139,587)
Hispanic / Latino 6%(10,763)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 6 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 2 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 41 more ancestry groups with data from 19.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 74.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 7.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 81.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 9.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 63.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 30.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 14.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 36.1%(26,914)
Women 15+
Never married 31.6%(24,163)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 14.4% 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) 18.4%(1,767)
Gulf War (1990s) 22.2%(2,130)
Share of the 9,600 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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In this metro
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4 component counties Drill deeper
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BOWLING GREEN VS
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BOWLING GREEN VS
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BOWLING GREEN VS
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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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