City profile · Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Bowling Green, VA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Bowling Green - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,455
Residents
$69,352
Median income
$307,100
Median home
$1,246
Median rent (state)

Bowling Green - the verdict

Bowling Green ranks in the 49th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

49th
percentile, household income
66th
percentile, home value
40th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Bowling Green, VA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,455 residents in Bowling Green, a small town within Virginia. The typical household in Bowling Green brings in $69,352 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.5%. Home values in Bowling Green run a median of $307,100, and the median resident age is 39.9 years. 19.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 50.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Virginia tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 101.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,246 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Virginia run around $235, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 20.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

1,455 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Virginia

Median Household Income

$69,352 /yr

Poverty 9.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

101.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Virginia average

How does Bowling Green compare to other US cities?

Bowling Green measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 49% higher than other cities
Home value 66% pricier than other cities
Median rent 40% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Bowling Green against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Virginia only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Virginia-relative analysis

Poverty Rate sits close to the middle of Virginia's city distribution

Among the 616 Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Bowling Green ranks #197 - the 67th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Bowling Green only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#301 of 558
46th percentile in Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#343 of 619
44th percentile in Virginia
Median Home Value
#224 of 567
60th percentile in Virginia
Poverty Rate
#197 of 616
67th percentile in Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#400 of 618
35th percentile in Virginia

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Virginia only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

49thIncome percentile

49th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Bowling Green's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$307,100 34th percentile more affordable than 34% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Bowling Green $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Bowling Green, VA Bowling Green, VA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Bowling Green, VA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Bowling Green, VA median $69,352/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Bowling Green, VA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Bowling Green, VA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 50.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,455
Median Income
$69,352
Median Home Value
$307,100
Median Age
39.9
Poverty Rate
9.5%
Labor force participation
50.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.1%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,150 residents1,200 residents1,250 residents1,300 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,167 residents 1,284 residents ▲ +10.0%
Bowling Green's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.6%
Carpool
11.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.9%
Work from Home
5.0%
Other
0.9%

Based on 561 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Virginia - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Virginia state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Virginia state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Bowling Green sits in

Cost of Living Index
101.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,246/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
20.7 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Virginia

Boswell's Corner
1,459 people
Benns Church
1,443 people
Union Hall
1,468 people
Brightwood
1,436 people
Clintwood
1,478 people
Weber City
1,478 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Bowling Green's 1,455 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Foresthill, CA
1,455 people
Bronson, FL
1,455 people
Paincourtville, LA
1,455 people
Simmesport, LA
1,455 people
Ashley, OH
1,455 people
McComb, OH
1,455 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Bowling Green's $69,352 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Glencoe, CA
$69,348 median income
Pleak, TX
$69,360 median income
Dames Quarter, MD
$69,342 median income
Helena, MT
$69,341 median income
Moorhead, MN
$69,371 median income
Ozark, MO
$69,372 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Bowling Green, VA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Bowling Green, VA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 79.9% 11.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.7% White 79.9% Black or African American 11.2% Asian 0.3% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.3% Two or more races 4.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Bowling Green compares to nearby Virginia cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Bowling Green (this city) 1,455 $69,352
Boswell's Corner 1,459 N/A
Benns Church 1,443 $69,598
Union Hall 1,468 $95,556
Census ACS 5-year FIPS VA OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Bowling Green, VA?

What is the population of Bowling Green, VA? +

Bowling Green, VA counts 1,455 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Bowling Green, VA? +

Median annual household income in Bowling Green runs $69,352, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Bowling Green? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Bowling Green; the closest available measure is the Virginia state average, a cost of living index of 101.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Virginia vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Bowling Green, VA? +

Homes in Bowling Green carry a median value of $307,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.