Home / Home Buying by state / Kentucky / Warren County / Bowling Green

Buying a home in Bowling Green, Kentucky

The typical owner-occupied home in Bowling Green is worth about $241,900, 18% above the Kentucky median of $205,600 and 27% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,807 a year in property taxes, about 0.75% of their home's value, close to the Kentucky rate of 0.75%. The median household earns $48,873 a year, so the median home costs 4.9 times the median income (3.2 times for Kentucky). 37% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 60% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Bowling Green at a glance

Bowling Green Kentucky U.S.
Median home value $241,900 $205,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,807 $1,544 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.75% 0.75% 0.94%
Median household income $48,873 $63,726 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 37% 68% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 60% 56% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,447 $1,433 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.8% 18.8% 21.0%
Median rent $998 $967 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 30.3% 28.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1991 1982 1980
Vacant homes 8.5% 10.3% 10.1%
Population 75,388 4,534,824 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Bowling Green

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Bowling Green home of $241,900 with 20% down costs about $1,554 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,957, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $66,591 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 38% of the median Bowling Green household income of $48,873; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $178,000.

The median rent here is $998 a month, so owning the median home costs about $556 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$48,380
Loan amount$193,520
Principal and interest$1,302
Property taxes (0.75% a year)$151
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$101
PMI$0
Total per month$1,554

Change the numbers in the calculator

3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$8,466
Loan amount$237,519
Principal and interest$1,598
Property taxes (0.75% a year)$151
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$101
FHA mortgage insurance$107
Total per month$1,957

Change the numbers in the calculator

Questions about home buying in Bowling Green

What is the median home value in Bowling Green?

About $241,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Bowling Green?

Homeowners pay a median $1,807 a year, which is about 0.75% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Bowling Green?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,554 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $66,591 a year.

More about Bowling Green

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data