Bowling Green, KY Metro Area

Metro Area

Population: 183,194 (2023 estimate)

Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA)

Metro area data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) are defined by the Office of Management and Budget and group counties with a central urban core plus surrounding communities that are economically tied to it. Metro areas often cross county and state lines, making them the best unit for understanding regional labor markets, housing costs, and commute patterns.

Metro income rankings Compare to another metro

Trends 2017–2023

Income Poverty Home Values Rent Homeownership Education Unemployment Commute Time Work From Home Foreign-Born Uninsured

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023 (released December 2024).

Quick Facts — Bowling Green, KY Metro Area

What is the median household income in Bowling Green, KY Metro Area?: The median household income in Bowling Green, KY Metro Area is $62,437 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023).
What is the poverty rate in Bowling Green, KY Metro Area?: The poverty rate in Bowling Green, KY Metro Area is 11.0% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the median home value in Bowling Green, KY Metro Area?: $219,400 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the average rent in Bowling Green, KY Metro Area?: The median gross rent in Bowling Green, KY Metro Area is $936 per month (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What percentage of Bowling Green, KY Metro Area residents have a college degree?: 27.8% of adults in Bowling Green, KY Metro Area hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).

Population

183,194

Median Income

$62,437

Median Home Value

$219,400

Poverty Rate

11.0%

Unemployment (ACS 2023)

5.0%

Median Age

35.0 yrs

Since 2019 Median Income: +$12,737 (+25.6%) Home Value: +$68,400 (+45.3%) Poverty Rate: -1.3 pp (-10.6%) Bachelor's+: +0.9 pp (+3.3%) Unemployment: +0.1 pp (+2%)

Demographics

Total Population 183,194

Median Age 35.0

Female 50.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino 6.0% White (non-Hisp.) 79.6% Black 6.6% Asian 3.5% Two or More 5.2% Other 2.2%

Asian Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Indian

0.4%

Chinese

0.2%

Filipino

0.2%

Korean

0.2%

Vietnamese

0.2%

Japanese

0.2%

Hispanic Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Mexican

3.4%

Puerto Rican

0.2%

Cuban

0.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Income & Poverty

Median Household Income $62,437 ±$2,071

Per Capita Income $83,902

Median Family Income $80,289

Poverty Rate 11.0%

Child Poverty Rate 18.7%

Working-Age Poverty Rate —

SNAP Recipients 12.5%

Social Security Income —

Retirement Income 23.6%

Household Income Distribution

< $10k

6.5%

$10–15k

4.4%

$15–25k

8.4%

$25–35k

9.4%

$35–50k

13.1%

$50–75k

16.2%

$75–100k

15.2%

$100–150k

15.8%

$150–200k

5.3%

$200k+

5.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Housing

Total Housing Units 79,695

Owner-Occupied 61.8%

Renter-Occupied 38.2%

Vacancy Rate 10.2%

Median Home Value $219,400

Median Gross Rent $936

Owner Cost Burden (30%+) 13.9%

Renter Cost Burden (30%+) 37.9%

Home Value Distribution

< $50k

8.4%

$50–100k

8.4%

$100–200k

11.6%

$200–300k

29.2%

$300–500k

19.1%

$500k–$1M

7.2%

$1M+

1.0%

Gross Rent Distribution

< $500

9.0%

$500–1k

50.7%

$1–1.5k

31.8%

$1.5–2k

6.1%

$2–2.5k

1.6%

$2.5–3.5k

0.2%

$3.5k+

0.6%

Vehicle Availability

No vehicle

6.6%

1 vehicle

31.5%

2 vehicles

37.5%

24.5%

Housing Type

Single-fam. det.

64.0%

Single-fam. att.

1.6%

2–4 units

3.2%

5–19 units

6.0%

20+ units

3.8%

Mobile home

11.1%

Housing Age

Pre-1940

5.9%

1940–1969

2.5%

1970–1999

13.7%

2000–2009

18.3%

2010+

14.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Education

High School or Higher 87.5%

Bachelor's or Higher 27.8%

Graduate Degree 10.8%

Some College / Associate 19.5%

Less Than High School 6.1%

Enrolled in School —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Employment

Labor Force Participation 63.7%

Unemployment Rate 5.0%

Work from Home 6.4%

Self-Employed 6.1%

Government Workers 13.5%

Private For-Profit 80.2%

Industry

Edu/Health

23.0%

Manufacturing

16.5%

Retail

12.6%

Arts/Entmt.

11.5%

Prof. Services

8.6%

Construction

6.3%

Transportation

5.8%

Finance

4.6%

Public Admin

2.2%

Wholesale

2.2%

Agriculture

1.9%

Information

0.8%

Occupation

Management

34.2%

Sales

20.7%

Production

19.0%

Food Prep

17.2%

Construction

8.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Commute

Median Travel Time 22.4 min

Drove Alone 78.7%

Carpool 10.8%

Public Transit 0.2%

Work from Home 6.4%

Walked 2.9%

Bicycle —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Households & Families

Total Households 71,576

Avg. Household Size 2.00

Avg. Family Size —

Married-Couple Households 46.9%

Single-Mother Households —

Single-Father Households —

Living Alone —

Households with Children 19.1%

Multigenerational —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Age Distribution

Under 5

6.2%

5–9

6.4%

10–14

6.6%

15–19

7.4%

20–24

9.6%

25–34

13.3%

35–44

12.3%

45–54

11.7%

55–64

5.9%

65–74

5.9%

75–84

8.9%

85+

4.4%

Under 18: 23.1% Working age (18–64): 76.9% 65 and over: 14.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Social Characteristics

Immigration

Foreign Born 7.9%

Naturalized Citizen 34.7%

Speaks English Less Than Very Well 6.2%

Foreign-Born Origin

Asia

38.8%

Latin America

29.3%

Europe

13.5%

Africa

12.7%

Veterans & Disability

Veteran 6.7%

With a Disability 15.2%

Cognitive Difficulty —

Ambulatory Difficulty —

Health Insurance

Insured 92.5%

Uninsured 7.5%

Employer Insurance —

Medicaid —

Medicare —

Technology & Mobility

Broadband Internet 88.7%

Has a Computer 93.6%

Same House 1 Year Ago 82.0%

Moved from Abroad 0.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023