Is the college town of Bowling Green, KY calling you?
A thriving economy, low cost of living, and stimulating culture make this city particularly attractive to young professionals.
Bowling Green is Kentucky’s 3rd largest city and home of Western Kentucky University.
In 2020, the city made Livability’s List of Top 100 Places to Live in the U.S. due to its high quality of life.
Still, it’s good to know the pros and cons of this city before making it your home.
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Pros of Living in Bowling Green, KY
Bowling Green does have its attributes as you can see from the following:
1. Low Cost of Living
Bowling Green is an affordable place to live, with a cost of living 13% lower than the U.S. average.
Houses are 29% cheaper here than in other U.S. cities, along with food, clothes, transportation, and healthcare.
Utilities seem to be the only expense that’s higher than the national average (7% higher).
Even non-necessary expenses like grooming and entertainment are cheaper in Bowling Green.
You can live comfortably here with an income of roughly $35,000 annually.
2. Affordable Real Estate
Bowling Green properties are less costly than homes in other parts of the country.
The median price for a home here is a little over $300,000.
Currently, the real estate market favors buyers, as there are more homes for sale than there are people to buy them.
This means you can negotiate for better prices.
The city has older historic homes from 1939 as well as recent construction from 2014 onward.
3. Job Growth
Bowling Green, KY is a growing community with multiple options for employment.
The economy is fueled by corporations like Fruit of the Loom, Magna, General Motors, BG Medical Center, and Union Underwear Co. LLC.
Western Kentucky University is also a major employer, offering a variety of jobs in the field of education.
Bowling Green is a place where young professionals can find their niche and build their careers.
4. Location
Bowling Green’s proximity to other major cities makes it an appealing place to live.
A one-hour drive on I-65 puts you in Nashville, TN, the music capital of the country.
If you love country music, living close to Nashville could be a dream come true.
The city is also less than 200 miles from Louisville and Lexington, KY, Cincinnati, OH, and Indianapolis, IN.
Weekend getaways to any one of these cities are something you can look forward to.
5. Green Spaces for Outdoor Buffs
There are over 25 lush, green parks in Bowling Green to keep you entertained outdoors.
Here you’ll find dog parks, playgrounds, skate parks, nature parks, disc golf parks, and more.
At Mammoth Cave National Park, there are trails for hiking, biking, and nature walks.
Or you can cool off at Barren River or Rough River Lake which are only a 30-minute drive away.
Both have beaches that allow for swimming, boating, and other water sports.
6. Car Scene
Bowling Green is a haven for car enthusiasts with attractions not found anywhere else in the country.
The city is home to the GM Corvette assembly plant and the National Corvette Museum!
The plant has assembled Corvettes exclusively in Bowling Green since 1981.
Car buyers can watch as their Corvette is being built and take delivery of their new sports car from the Museum off the factory floor.
You can also tour the museum to view the different types of collector Corvettes on display.
At the NCM Motorsports Park, you can even drive a Corvette on an official racetrack for the experience of a lifetime!
7. Recreational Activities
There are activities galore in Bowling Green, KY, to keep you from getting bored.
If you’re into shopping, Greenwood Mall has over 100 stores to choose from, including Belk, JC Penney, and Dillard’s.
For hiking, camping, and fishing, try Barren River Lake a half-hour drive from the city.
Take a boat tour of underground caverns at Lost River Cave or hit the trails at Mammoth Cave National Park.
The Kentucky Museum, Riverview at Hobson Grove, and Chaney’s Dairy Barn are additional in-town attractions worth exploring.
8. Breweries
Kentucky is brewery country and Bowling Green is home to two of the best – White Squirrel and Blue Hollar.
White Squirrel produces such iconic craft beers as Kolsch Style Ale, Nut Brown Ale, Belgium White, and Oatmeal Stout.
At Blue Hollar, you can take your pick of 20 craft beers on tap, seven of which are brewed in-house.
For an evening of fine food, drinks, and live entertainment, you can’t beat the breweries at Bowling Green.
Cons of Living in Bowling Green, KY
What’s not so good about living in Bowling Green, KY?
Well, to begin with, there’s . . .
1. Tornadoes
Bowling Green is a high-risk area for tornados.
Since 1950, a total of 84 tornadoes have touched down in the Bowling Green area.
An EF3 tornado struck as recently as December 2021, killing 17 people and destroying 475 homes.
Tornado activity in this area has increased dramatically in the last 50 years.
It’s a risk you should seriously consider before moving to this town.
2. Poverty
Despite the city’s economic growth, poverty continues to be a problem in Bowling Green.
In 2021, poverty levels exceeded the national average by 99%.
It’s estimated that 25.5% of the population here lives in poverty.
The Delafield neighborhood is one of the poorest in the city.
This is due, in part, to having many single-mother households.
Poverty often goes hand-in-hand with . . .
3. Homelessness
Homelessness in Kentucky has reached major proportions.
Nearly 4,000 people live on the streets or in shelters in the Bluegrass State, according to the Kentucky Housing Corporation.
In Bowling Green, the homeless population has been steadily growing.
Unfortunately, the city’s shelters haven’t kept up with the problem.
Financial difficulties, lack of affordable housing, addiction, and mental health issues are common causes of homelessness problems.
4. Racial Inequality
Bowling Green has a population of approximately 75,000.
The majority of these people (74%) are white.
Around 9.6% of Bowling Green residents are African Americans and 8.3% Hispanic.
The city has had its share of racial disputes and inequality.
When it comes to income levels, Blacks and other minorities lag well behind whites.
In fact, the median household income shows a difference of almost $30,000 between Blacks and whites.
5. Drug Problem
Like so many communities in the country, Bowling Green struggles with addiction problems.
Kentucky as a whole is the 8th worst state for problems with drugs.
Bowling Green’s proximity to I-65 and other major highways makes it a hotspot for drug trafficking.
As a college town that hosts dozens of attractions annually, it’s no surprise that drug and alcohol abuse is common.
Drug addiction coupled with Illegal trafficking has had a major impact on families and businesses in the local area.
Fortunately, Bowling Green has numerous rehab facilities to help with resolving addiction problems.
6. Pests
Hot, muggy summers make Bowling Green a perfect breeding ground for mosquitos and other pests.
During summer, you may find any number of pests in or around your home.
Ants, bed bugs, mosquitos, roaches, spiders, termites, bees, and rats are all common in the area.
Some of these pests are dangerous as well as annoying as they can carry harmful diseases.
By spraying regularly, you can minimize the invasion of pests into your abode.
7. Poor Roads/Traffic
Traffic and road conditions in Bowling Green leave much to be desired.
Traffic jams and congestion are common during rush hour and even more so during festivals and other events.
Many of the urban roads in Bowling Green are deteriorated and in need of major repair.
According to a TRIP report, about 13% of the local or state-maintained roads in the city are in bad shape.
This same report states that drivers can lose up to $1,500 annually in vehicle operating costs by driving regularly on compromised roads.
8. Living in a College Town
Not everyone is cut out to live in a college town, especially one with over 20,000 students!
Students add to congested traffic, and may even increase the risk of accidents.
During festivals and special events, your part of the city may become quite loud and rowdy.
You’re bound to run into students everywhere you go.
If being around young people isn’t your thing, think twice about coming to Bowling Green.
Pros and Cons of Living in Bowling Green, KY – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in Bowling Green, KY | Cons of Living in Bowling Green, KY |
|---|---|
| 1. Low Cost of Living | 1. Tornadoes |
| 2. Affordable Real Estate | 2. Poverty |
| 3. Job Growth | 3. Homelessness |
| 4. Location | 4. Racial Inequality |
| 5. Green Spaces for Outdoor Buffs | 5. Drug Problem |
| 6. Car Scene | 6. Pests |
| 7. Recreational Activities | 7. Poor Roads/Traffic |
| 8. Breweries | 8. Living in a College Town |
Bowling Green Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Bowling Green Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the housing market like in Bowling Green?
Bowling Green’s median home cost is around $300,000.
With it being a buyer’s market, there are lots of home options for buyers to choose from.
Over the last decade, home values have risen by almost 37%.
Are rents expensive in Bowling Green, KY?
Bowling Green is known for having affordable rentals that cater to the needs of the student population.
Studios and 1-bedroom apartments can be found for less than $700 monthly.
For 2 & 3-bedroom apartments, you can expect to pay between $800 and $1,050.
Affordable housing is an incentive for young professionals to move to this area.
Is Bowling Green, KY an affordable place to live?
Bowling Green enjoys a low cost of living that’s 13% less than the U.S. average.
Home properties are 29% cheaper than the national average.
The cost of necessities like food, clothes, and healthcare are cheaper than the U.S. average.
Whether you’re a student, parent, or retiree, your dollar will stretch more in Bowling Green than in other cities in the country.
Is Bowling Green, KY a college town?
Most definitely!
In fact, the city was recently ranked among the top 10 college towns in the country.
Western Kentucky University is a major employer, contributing to the city’s job and economic growth.
Bowling Green is a great place for young professionals to plant roots and build their careers.
What is Bowling Green most known for?
When people think of Bowling Green, Corvettes come to mind!
Bowling Green is the only place in the world where Corvette sports cars are assembled.
Car buffs will find the car scene in this city absolutely incredible!
The city is also home to Western Kentucky University, one of the top schools in the country.
One of the cons of living in Bowling Green is the hot and humid summers. If you’re not a fan of sweltering heat, you might find the summers here a bit challenging to bear.
I lived in Bowling Green for several years and one of the biggest pros for me was the sense of community. People are friendly and welcoming, making it easy to feel at home here.
As a nature lover, one of the major pros for me is the proximity to beautiful outdoor destinations like Mammoth Cave National Park. It’s great to have easy access to hiking trails and stunning natural scenery.
One of the pros of living in Bowling Green is the cost of living. Compared to larger cities, housing, and everyday expenses are much more affordable, allowing for a comfortable lifestyle without breaking the bank.
One downside of living in Bowling Green is the limited public transportation options. If you don’t have a car, getting around can be a bit challenging, especially for daily commutes.