Bowling Green, Florida Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Bowling Green is a small community located in Florida, within Hardee County. The total population is 2,226. It ranks as the 660th most populous out of 955 Census-designated places in Florida.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bowling Green is 28.0 years. This is 34% lower than the state median of 42.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bowling Green is $45,357. This is 39% lower than the state median of $74,568. It is also 44% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 29.0%. This is 131% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 9.8%. This is 104% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $116,800. Housing costs are 67% lower than the state median of $359,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Bowling Green is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 67.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Bowling Green is Hispanic or Latino, making up 53.8% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 33.2%. The Black or African American population (7.0%) is well below the state average of 14.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (53.8% vs 27.4%).

Education

7.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 80% lower than the state rate of 34.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 73.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Bowling Green, Florida is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Florida state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 955 Census-designated places in Florida. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.