Bowling Green, Kentucky
Among the top 10% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 45% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade F, better than 2% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade F, better than 2% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A, better than 90% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade D, better than 20% of US places
- top 11% for commute time
- top 14% for sales tax
- bottom 3% for property crime
Bowling Green is a mid-size city in Kentucky with about 72,000 residents. It grades A for getting around and F for weather. Standout strengths include commute time, sales tax, and walkability. It rates lower on sunny days and property crime.
Official websitebgky.org (opens in new tab)
Climate
Hot, humid summers · Cool winters · Wet · Light snow
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64%37%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.8 in3.7 in
muggy 100%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$47k23rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$48kbetter than 42% of US places
Home Value$215k64th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$931better than 48% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 46% of US places
Property Tax Rate0.76%better than 67% of US places
Income Tax6.35%better than 27% of US places
State 4.50% + Local 1.85%
Sales Tax6.00%better than 86% of US places
Estimated total tax burden11.82%better than 30% of US places
Unemployment5.6%better than 34% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)37°F65th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)80°F72nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation50.1 in79th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall8.5 inbetter than 63% of US places
Sunny Days183 daysbetter than 11% of US places
Summer Humidity68°Fbetter than 24% of US places
Comfortable Days70 daysbetter than 23% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk85.1better than 18% of US places
Air Quality48 AQIbetter than 40% of US places
School Quality42.3better than 19% of US places
Violent Crime1284/100kbetter than 24% of US places
Property Crime3855/100kbetter than 3% of US places
Community
Population72,38598th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age27.86th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.4982nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9439th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+1743rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)65.8%27th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)12.6%86th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)8.5%70th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)7.7%94th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)5.4%73rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time19 minbetter than 89% of US places
Walkability8.6/20better than 79% of US places
Airport Distance61 mibetter than 60% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access89.1%better than 61% of US places
Amenities Nearby13.26better than 17% of US places
Park & Nature AccessLimitedbetter than 23% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bowling Green an affordable place to live?
- Bowling Green is about average in cost. Its cost-of-living index is $48k, better than 42% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Bowling Green?
- The median home value in Bowling Green is $215k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Bowling Green?
- Median household income in Bowling Green is $47k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Bowling Green?
- Median gross rent in Bowling Green is $931 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Bowling Green safe?
- Bowling Green is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1284/100k (better than 24%). Property crime is 3855/100k.
- What is the weather like in Bowling Green?
- Bowling Green averages 80°F in July and 37°F in January, with 50.1 in of annual precipitation and about 183 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Bowling Green?
- Public-school quality in Bowling Green is below average, scoring better than 19% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Bowling Green?
- The average one-way commute in Bowling Green is 19 min.
Places near Bowling Green
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Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)