Bowling Green, Florida Demographics & Population 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

★

High PovertyPoverty rate of 29.0% is well above the state average

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Bowling Green, Florida had a total population of 2,226, the 660th largest city in Florida, with a median household income of $45,357, which is 39% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 29.0%.

Key Takeaways

Household income is 39% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (29.0%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
Only 7.0% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
Unemployment rate of 9.8% is notably above the national average.

Bowling Green Quick Facts

Population 2,22690% MOE ±531

Median Household Income $45,35790% MOE ±$12,585

Median Home Value $116,80090% MOE ±$14,660

Poverty Rate 29.0%90% MOE ±12.2 pts

Unemployment Rate 9.8%90% MOE ±5.9 pts

Median Age 28.0 years90% MOE ±4.0 years

Homeownership Rate 70.2%90% MOE ±22.4 pts

Affordability Ratio 2.6x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 7.0%90% MOE ±3.3 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 73.8%

Diversity Index 59/100

Population 2,226 660th of 955

Median Income $45,357 bottom 10%

Poverty Rate 29.0% 133% higher than national

Median Home Value $116,800 bottom 10%

How Bowling Green Changed

Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.

Metric	2015–2019	2020–2024	Change
Population	2,893	2,226	-23.1%
Median household income	$45,792	$45,357	No clear change (-1.0%)
Median home value¹	$67,566	$116,800	+72.9%
Median gross rent	$847	$1,011	No clear change (+19.4%)

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

How Bowling Green Compares

Median Household Income

Bowling Green

$45,357

$74,568

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Bowling Green

$116,800

$359,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 16.9%

$25K-$50K 39.7%

$50K-$100K 23.4%

$100K+ 19.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.7%

$10K-$15K

6.5%

$15K-$20K

3.6%

$20K-$25K

2.1%

$25K-$30K

11.1%

$30K-$35K

6.9%

$35K-$40K

10.9%

$40K-$45K

4.0%

$45K-$50K

6.8%

$50K-$60K

3.0%

$60K-$75K

12.5%

$75K-$100K

7.9%

$100K-$125K

8.8%

$125K-$150K

3.6%

$150K-$200K

1.9%

$200K+

5.5%

Employment

9.8% Unemployment Rate State: 4.8%|National: 5.2%

57.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 70.2%

Renter 29.8%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.6x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,011/mo 26.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.1%

18-34

35.4%

35-54

13.9%

55-74

22.4%

75+

7.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 65 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Bowling Green Rankings in Florida

#660 Population of 955

#830 Median Income of 911

#893 Education of 955

#843 Home Value of 901

Explore Florida Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Hardee County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Wauchula	4,927	$53,013	38.1%	$191,800
Zolfo Springs	2,158	$60,946	32.0%	$115,100
Fort Green Springs	762	$81,042	13.0%	$76,900
Lemon Grove	547	$26,971	39.9%	N/A
Gardner	381	N/A	42.5%	$86,400
Ona	44	N/A	9.1%	N/A
Fort Green	39	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Limestone	25	N/A	28.0%	N/A

Cities Similar to Bowling Green

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Lake Mack-Forest Hills	2,200	N/A	$138,800	9.9%	20.4%
Dunnellon	2,216	$40,545	$168,200	11.6%	18.6%
Trenton	2,320	$49,350	$183,500	10.4%	18.8%
Harlem	2,420	$46,038	$56,200	1.6%	6.7%
Campbell	2,123	$40,411	$77,200	28.9%	35.6%

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.

Free data download: Get all Florida city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Bowling Green, Florida?

Bowling Green, Florida has a population of 2,226 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Bowling Green, FL?

The median household income in Bowling Green is $45,357, which is 44% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Bowling Green, FL?

The poverty rate in Bowling Green is 29.0%. This means approximately 630 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Bowling Green, Florida?

Bowling Green's population is 33.2% White, 7.0% Black, 53.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.

What is the median home value in Bowling Green, FL?

The median home value in Bowling Green is $116,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.6x.

How educated is Bowling Green, Florida?

7.0% of adults (25+) in Bowling Green hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.