Bowling Green, Kentucky Income Statistics
Bowling Green Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
Bowling Green Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Bowling Green | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $50,661 | $64,312 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $43,610 | $52,849 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.2% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.8% | 8.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.2% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Bowling Green is about 21% lower than in Kentucky. Income has been growing slower in Bowling Green (3.2%/yr) than in Kentucky (4.6%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Bowling Green earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Kentucky average of 9%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Bowling Green, Kentucky grew by 42.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $50,661 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Bowling Green
| Metric | Bowling Green | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.577 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $49,271 | $60,966 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,378 | $49,119 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 12.0% | 19.4% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Bowling Green, it is 0.577, higher than Kentucky's 0.547, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 14% more than women's income in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Over a 35-year career, a 14% wage gap accumulates to roughly $206,255 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Bowling Green, Kentucky has narrowed from about 25% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2010, and was narrowest at 9% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $4,488 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Bowling Green | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.8% | 10.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 1,645 people are unemployed in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The average commute time in Bowling Green is 15 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Kentucky.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Bowling Green, Kentucky has fallen from 11.1% to 4.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.5% in 2014.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Bowling Green, Kentucky has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Kentucky, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
How Rich Is Bowling Green, Kentucky?
Bowling Green has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $50,661, about 21% lower than the Kentucky average of $64,312.
How has median household income changed in Bowling Green, Kentucky?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Bowling Green, Kentucky rose 42%, from $35,666 to $50,661. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Kentucky as a whole: +42% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Bowling Green in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Bowling Green, Kentucky was $50,838, about the same as in 2022. The Kentucky median that year was $62,783.
What was the median household income in Bowling Green in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Bowling Green, Kentucky was $43,827. By 2024 it had risen 16% to $50,661.
What is the Gini coefficient in Bowling Green, Kentucky?
The Gini coefficient in Bowling Green is 0.577. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Bowling Green, Kentucky?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Bowling Green, Kentucky has narrowed from about 25% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2010, and was narrowest at 9% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $4,488 since 2009.
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