Bowling Green is a city located in Warren County Kentucky. Bowling Green has a 2024 population of 77,459. It is also the county seat of Warren County. Bowling Green is currently growing at a rate of 1.64% annually and its population has increased by 6.88% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 72,470 in 2020.
The average household income in Bowling Green is $69,390 with a poverty rate of 26.62%. The median age in Bowling Green is 27.8 years: 27.6 years for males, and 28 years for females.
It is the third-most populous city in Kentucky, falling only behind Lexington and Louisville. Bowling Green is home to many major manufacturers, including Fruit of the Loom and the Bowling Green Assembly Plant that assembles Chevy Corvettes. The city is also the site of Western Kentucky University, the second largest public university in Kentucky. In the past, the city has been named as one of the best places in the nation for retirement.
The educational and job opportunities available in Bowling Green have contributed to its steady growth since its founding. Recent estimates show that the city’s population is up 12.3% since the last census was taken in 2010, indicating that an increase in Bowling Green is showing no sign of slowing down in the years ahead.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Bowling Green was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
|---|---|---|
| White | 50,410 | 69.64% |
| Black or African American | 9,360 | 12.93% |
| Asian | 5,609 | 7.75% |
| Two or more races | 3,933 | 5.43% |
| Other race | 2,339 | 3.23% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 640 | 0.88% |
| Native American | 94 | 0.13% |
White
Black or African American
Asian
Two or more races
Other race
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Native American
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 28,686 | 2.32 | 37.9 | 62.1 |
| Non Family | 13,648 | 1.42 | 25.7 | 74.3 |
| Married | 9,499 | 3.22 | 62.8 | 37.2 |
| Female | 4,011 | 3.01 | 25.3 | 74.7 |
| Male | 1,528 | 2.94 | 25.1 | 74.9 |
3.02
Average Family Size
2.32
Average Household Size
37.9%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 9th to 12th Grade | 2,462 | 6.12% |
| Associates Degree | 3,075 | 7.65% |
| Bachelors Degree | 7,342 | 18.26% |
| Graduate Degree | 5,115 | 12.72% |
| High School Graduate | 10,269 | 25.54% |
| Less Than 9th Grade | 3,500 | 8.71% |
| Some College | 8,442 | 21% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 27,983 | 25,649 | 10,382 |
| Black | 5,475 | 4,546 | 821 |
| Asian | 2,901 | 1,593 | 604 |
| Hispanic | 2,786 | 1,695 | 471 |
| Other Race | 1,111 | 511 | 47 |
| 2+ Races | 1,082 | 862 | 304 |
| Islander | 362 | 187 | 0 |
| Native American | 37 | 37 | 18 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among native american people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among native american people with a rate of 48.65%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelors Degree | $50,386 | $60,799 | $41,577 |
| Graduate Degree | $60,560 | $68,625 | $56,322 |
| High School Graduate | $29,216 | $35,323 | $21,396 |
| Less Than 9th Grade | $30,569 | $32,872 | $24,702 |
| Overall | $37,321 | $41,824 | $33,336 |
| Some College | $34,818 | $36,420 | $32,276 |
$37,321
Average Earnings
$41,824
Average Male
$33,336
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
81.58% of Bowling Green residents speak only English, while 18.42% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Asian and Pacific Island languages, which is spoken by 6.99% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 42,996 | 9,019 | 20.98% |
| Black | 8,841 | 3,633 | 41.09% |
| Hispanic | 5,832 | 1,977 | 33.9% |
| Asian | 5,477 | 1,649 | 30.11% |
| Multiple | 3,618 | 1,562 | 43.17% |
| Other | 2,296 | 1,042 | 45.38% |
| Islander | 574 | 207 | 36.06% |
| Native | 81 | 26 | 32.1% |
26.62%
Overall Poverty Rate
23.31%
Male Poverty Rate
29.8%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Bowling Green is Other, with 45.38% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Bowling Green is White, with 20.98% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 7.49%. Among those working part-time, it was 36.45%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 34.65%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Less Than 9th Grade | 36.07% |
| High School | 22.89% |
| Some College | 13.9% |
| Bachelors or Greater | 7.34% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Female Unemployed | 60.03% |
| Male Unemployed | 27.83% |
| Female Employed | 21% |
| Male Employed | 15.56% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Families | $63,502 | $87,360 |
| Households | $47,118 | $69,390 |
| Married Families | $85,095 | $-999,999,999 |
| Non Families | $34,472 | $46,135 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
34.9%
Overall Marriage Rate
37.3%
Male Marriage Rate
32.6%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 45-54, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
2,848
Number of Veterans
2,582
Male Veterans
266
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
|---|---|
| Second Gulf War | 863 |
| Vietnam | 848 |
| First Gulf War | 743 |
| Korea | 105 |
| World War II | 69 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
|---|---|
| 35 to 54 | 774 |
| 65 to 74 | 663 |
| 75+ | 621 |
| 55 to 64 | 487 |
| 18 to 34 | 303 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 2,252 | 5.38% |
| Black | 469 | 6.51% |
| 2+ Races | 96 | 3.96% |
| Hispanic | 56 | 1.54% |
| Native American | 18 | 26.47% |
| Asian | 11 | 0.32% |
| Other Race | 2 | 0.16% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
8.38%
Veteran Poverty Rate
23.99%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
67.4%
Labor Force Participation
63.6%
Employment Rate
5.6%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
53.99%
Born in Bowling Green
86.13%
Native Born
13.87%
Foreign Born
9.74%
Non Citizen
4.13%
Naturalized
86.13% of Bowling Green residents were born in the United States, with 53.99% having been born in Kentucky. 9.74% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 83,695 | 1,247 | 1.51% |
| 2028 | 82,448 | 1,247 | 1.54% |
| 2027 | 81,201 | 1,248 | 1.56% |
| 2026 | 79,953 | 1,247 | 1.58% |
| 2025 | 78,706 | 1,247 | 1.61% |
| 2024 | 77,459 | 1,247 | 1.64% |
| 2023 | 76,212 | 1,194 | 1.59% |
| 2022 | 75,018 | 1,823 | 2.49% |
| 2021 | 73,195 | 725 | 1% |
| 2020 | 72,470 | 2,248 | 3.2% |
| 2019 | 70,222 | 1,490 | 2.17% |
| 2018 | 68,732 | 778 | 1.14% |
| 2017 | 67,954 | 1,632 | 2.46% |
| 2016 | 66,322 | 1,327 | 2.04% |
| 2015 | 64,995 | 1,421 | 2.24% |
| 2014 | 63,574 | 842 | 1.34% |
| 2013 | 62,732 | 1,413 | 2.3% |
| 2012 | 61,319 | 949 | 1.57% |
| 2011 | 60,370 | 639 | 1.07% |
| 2010 | 59,731 | 0 | 0% |
| 2000 | 49,296 | 8,655 | 21.3% |
| 1990 | 40,641 | 191 | 0.47% |
| 1980 | 40,450 | 3,745 | 10.2% |
| 1970 | 36,705 | 8,367 | 29.53% |
| 1960 | 28,338 | 9,991 | 54.46% |
| 1950 | 18,347 | 3,762 | 25.79% |
| 1940 | 14,585 | 2,237 | 18.12% |
| 1930 | 12,348 | 2,710 | 28.12% |
| 1920 | 9,638 | 465 | 5.07% |
| 1910 | 9,173 | 947 | 11.51% |
| 1900 | 8,226 | 423 | 5.42% |
| 1890 | 7,803 | 2,689 | 52.58% |
| 1880 | 5,114 | 540 | 11.81% |
| 1870 | 4,574 | -79,121 | -94.53% |