Bowling Green city, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Bowling Green city is a mid-sized community located in Kentucky. The total population is 73,638. It ranks as the 3rd most populous out of 552 cities and towns in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bowling Green city is 27.9 years. This is 29% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bowling Green city is $48,419. This is 22% lower than the state median of $62,417. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 38% lower. The poverty rate stands at 25.4%. This is 57% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. 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 5.1%. This is 6% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $232,100. Housing costs are 21% higher than the state median of $192,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.8x. 37.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 45% lower than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Bowling Green city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 63.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 12.7%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (12.7% vs 7.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (10.7% vs 4.7%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (7.2% vs 1.5%).

Education

32.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 18% higher than the state rate of 27.0%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Bowling Green city, Kentucky is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Kentucky state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky. For official data, visit data.census.gov.