Median Age
31 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 22% of Residents
Under 20
26%
Over 65
12%
Bowling Green
Bowling Green, KY Area Guide
Avg Rent
$889
Population
70,625
Renter Mix
62% Rent
A burgeoning small city that’s full of character and big-city attractions
Charming
•
Scenic
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Peaceful
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Outdoors
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Historic
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Up-and-Coming
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River
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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.
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 April 2026, the average apartment rent in Bowling Green, KY is $630 for a studio, $889 for one bedroom, $1,102 for two bedrooms, and $1,513 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Bowling Green has decreased by -1.8% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$889/month
693 Sq Ft
House
$1,669/month
1,244 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,020/month
638 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,118/month
1,146 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Bowling Green, KY is 11.2% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Bowling Green is 28.5% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $630 - $1,513. You can expect to pay 5.4% less for groceries, 9.0% more for utilities, and 9.2% less for transportation.
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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
876 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
698 Students
Public
Grades K-5
439 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
679 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
603 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
729 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
772 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
487 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
963 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
191 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,494 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,370 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,294 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,031 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
191 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
Property Management Companies in Bowling Green, KY
Freeman Webb
-
80
Communities
-
15,932
Units
-
23
Cities
3 Communities in Bowling Green
Brookside Properties
-
147
Communities
-
25,330
Units
-
59
Cities
2 Communities in Bowling Green
Cardinal Group Management and Advisory, LLC
-
160
Communities
-
32,084
Units
-
84
Cities
1 Community in Bowling Green
Coastal Ridge Real Estate
-
101
Communities
-
23,554
Units
-
54
Cities
1 Community in Bowling Green
Flaherty & Collins, Inc
-
58
Communities
-
13,957
Units
-
41
Cities
1 Community in Bowling Green
West Shore
-
54
Communities
-
17,608
Units
-
36
Cities
1 Community in Bowling Green
Search Nearby 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 February 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.