City profile
Bowling Green, KY
Affordable college town near Mammoth Cave and an hour from Nashville.
Climate
Climate type
Four seasons
Winter avg
35°F
Summer avg
79°F
Sunny days / yr
205
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$260,000
Typical monthly housing
$1,671
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
88
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.80%
- State income tax (top)
- 4%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Partly exempt
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 6.00%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate · county score 89/100
Top hazards: Hail, Tornado, Earthquake
Nearest major airport
61 mi to Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Republican · 38% Democratic / 60% Republican
Demographics (Census ACS)
Population (2024)
75,388
Growth since 2019
+11.5%
Median age
28.7
Residents 65+
11.7%
Median household income
$48,873
Income growth since 2019
+15.8%
Black household income
$36,905
Home ownership
36.6%
Poverty rate
25.6%
Poverty rate, 65+
10.2%
Race & ethnicity: Black 14.1% · White 62.1% · Hispanic 10.6% · Asian 7.7% · Other 5.6%
Crime (per 100,000 residents, 2025)
Violent crime
188 · 43% below the national average
Property crime
2,286 · 47% above the national average
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, Bowling Green Police Department. State average: violent 216, property 1,283.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸Home prices are still rising in 2026 — good for long-term value, less room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: flooding, tornadoes
Highlights
- Near Mammoth Cave
- An hour to Nashville
- Affordable
Trade-offs
- Small airport
- Limited transit
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.