Median Age
31 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 22% of Residents
Under 20
26%
Over 65
12%
Bowling Green, KY Area Guide
Avg Rent
$894
Population
70,625
Renter Mix
62% Rent
A burgeoning small city that’s full of character and big-city attractions
Charming
•
Scenic
•
Peaceful
Located in south-central Kentucky, Bowling Green combines historic architecture with contemporary living. As home to Western Kentucky University, the city maintains a strong educational presence while preserving its small-town community spirit. The heart of downtown centers around Fountain Square Park, which hosts community events throughout the seasons. Outdoor recreation opportunities abound at Lost River Cave, featuring Kentucky's only underground boat tour, while Weldon Peete Park offers dedicated mountain biking trails and climbing areas. The city's automotive heritage shines through the National Corvette Museum and the GM Corvette Assembly Plant, drawing visitors from across the globe.
The rental market in Bowling Green offers various housing options, with average monthly rents ranging from $671 for studios to $1,497 for four-bedroom homes. The Downtown district features preserved historic architecture, while areas near Western Kentucky University and Greenwood showcase a mix of housing styles. Notable historic areas include the St. Joseph Historic District and Shake Rag Historic District, both listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As Kentucky's third-largest city with over 72,000 residents, Bowling Green maintains lower living costs compared to similar-sized cities.
Popular Neighborhoods
Explore the City
An aerial view of Circus Square Park in Downtown Bowling Green.
Fountain Square Park in Downtown Bowling Green has a historic fountain.
An aerial view of Downtown Bowling Green shows an outdoor skate park and lush trees.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$43,659
Average: $64,132
Education
18,579
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
35,254
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Bowling Green has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
62%
Non-Renters
38%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
20%
Other Education
80%
Rent Trends
As of July 2026, the average apartment rent in Bowling Green, KY is $637 for a studio, $894 for one bedroom, $1,113 for two bedrooms, and $1,535 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Bowling Green has decreased by -0.2% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$894/month
684 Sq Ft
House
$1,836/month
1,515 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,082/month
1,177 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Bowling Green, KY is 11.1% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Bowling Green is 28.5% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $637 - $1,535. You can expect to pay 5.4% less for groceries, 9.6% more for utilities, and 9.2% less for transportation.
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Learn More About Bowling Green
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Bowling Green, KY is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
50
/ 100
Very Drivable
Drivability
80
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
50
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-5
993 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
764 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
682 Students
Public
Grades K-5
499 Students
Public
Grades K-5
426 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
703 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
815 Students
Bowling Green Junior High School
Public
Grades 6-8
1,027 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
963 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
155 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,409 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,474 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,369 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
155 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
930 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Spero Kereiakes Park
- Lovers Lane Soccer Complex
- Baker Arboretum
- Hardin Planetarium
- Lost River Cave and Valley
Military Bases
Colleges
Top Apartments in Bowling Green
Houses for Rent in Bowling Green
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Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.