The Town FilesBowling Green, Kentucky
City in Warren County · population 72,294 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $241,900
- Household income
- $48,873
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 28.7
Bowling Green is a city of 72,294 people in Warren County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $241,900, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks more vibrant than 93% of Kentucky towns, better for cycling than 90% of Kentucky towns, better for young professionals than 86% of Kentucky towns.
How Bowling Green ranks
Percentile among Kentucky towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kentucky towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bowling Green is worth $241,900, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 4.9 times the median household income of $48,873, which is more affordable than 4% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $998 a month. 36.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bowling Green | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $241,900 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $998 | $837 |
| Median household income | $48,873 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.9× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 36.6% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Bowling Green
| People | Bowling Green | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.7 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.4% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.2% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.6% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 17.8 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.0% | 88.6% |
Weather in Bowling Green
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 28.3°F. About 50.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.5 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 81 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bowling Green since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on December 11, 2021 about 1.3 miles from the town center and killed 17. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 17 deaths and 69 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 18, 1969.
Severe weather in Warren County since 1996
Warren County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 23, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4875: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4864: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
Jobs and pay in Warren County
Warren County had 70,761 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,488 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Bowling Green itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Bowling Green
42 public schools with 21,042 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Warren High School | 9-12 | 1,523 | 19.8 |
| Greenwood High School | 9-12 | 1,422 | 17.6 |
| Bowling Green High School | 9-12 | 1,290 | 16.3 |
| Warren Central High School | 9-12 | 1,073 | 17.0 |
| Warren East High School | 9-12 | 978 | 17.5 |
| Bowling Green Junior High | 6-8 | 971 | 16.2 |
| Rich Pond Elementary | PK-6 | 941 | 19.2 |
| Jennings Creek Elementary | PK-6 | 819 | 16.1 |
| Lost River Elementary | PK-6 | 805 | 17.5 |
| South Warren Middle School | 7-8 | 783 | 18.2 |
| Jody Richards Elementary | PK-6 | 776 | 16.9 |
| Drakes Creek Middle School | 7-8 | 733 | 17.5 |
Towns near Bowling Green
- Franklin, KY19.1 mi · 10,176 people · home $195,400
- Scottsville, KY20.1 mi · 4,299 people · home $160,700
- Morgantown, KY22.2 mi · 2,505 people · home $114,000
- Portland, TN26.7 mi · 13,156 people · home $282,200
- Russellville, KY27.2 mi · 7,164 people · home $168,700
- Glasgow, KY28.1 mi · 15,014 people · home $173,900
Bowling Green questions
Is Bowling Green, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bowling Green scores better for retirees than 5% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 3%. 11.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.7).
How much does a house cost in Bowling Green?
The median owner-occupied home in Bowling Green is valued at $241,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,873, so homes cost about 4.9 times income. Median rent is $998 a month.
What is the weather like in Bowling Green?
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 28.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.1 inches of precipitation a year and 8.5 inches of snow.
Does Bowling Green get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bowling Green since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on December 11, 2021. The typical Kentucky town has had 19.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)