ZIP Code 42101
standardSource:
Bowling Green · Warren County · Kentucky
- Population
- 55,648
- Median income
- $48,217
- Median home value
- $207,200
- Bachelor's or higher
- 19.3%
- Land area
- 733.2 sq mi
76/sq mi
▼ 37% vs US
higher than 12% of US ZIPs
▼ 26% vs US
higher than 45% of US ZIPs
Median age 28.1
Chicago
ZIP code 42101 in Bowling Green, Kentucky has a population of 55,648. The median household income is $48,217, which is 37% below the national average. Median home value is $207,200, 26% below the US average. 19.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 42101 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 733.2 square miles in Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky. The area is home to 55,648 residents, producing a population density of 76 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 42101 against Kentucky and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 42101 sits at $48,217 (19% below the Kentucky average), while per-capita income is $24,219. The poverty rate stands at 25.2% and the unemployment rate at 4.7%. On housing, the median home value is $207,200 (30% above the state average) with median rent at $950 per month, and 44.7% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 42101 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 19.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 28.1, and the average commute is 20 minutes. We also surface 3 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Warren County, so you can benchmark 42101 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 42101
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 42101.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
231 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
167 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
151 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
132 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
109 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 42101, Bowling Green, KY · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
55,648
Population
733.2
Area (sq mi)
76
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 42101?
28.1
Median Age
50.0%
Male
50.0%
Female
11.5%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$48,217
Median Household Income
-19% vs state
$24,219
Per Capita Income
25.2%
Poverty Rate
4.7%
Unemployment Rate
20.4 min
Mean Commute Time
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
26,751
Total Housing Units
24,361
Occupied Units
2,390
Vacant Units
2.47
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$207,200
Median Home Value
+30% vs state
$950
Median Rent
1991
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+0.7%
YoY Change (2024)
226
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+126%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 42101 have increased 0.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +126% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.4% | 159 |
| 2021 | +11.0% | 177 |
| 2022 | +16.5% | 206 |
| 2023 | +8.9% | 224 |
| 2024 | +0.7% | 226 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,396 business establishments in ZIP 42101, employing approximately 34,401 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,935,286,000.
1,396
Businesses
34,401
Employees
$1.9B
Annual Payroll
19
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 231 | 16.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 167 | 12.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | 151 | 10.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 132 | 9.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 109 | 7.8% |
| Construction | 106 | 7.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 91 | 6.5% |
| Manufacturing | 80 | 5.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 74 | 5.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 69 | 4.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 65 | 4.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 56 | 4.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 23 | 1.6% |
| Information | 13 | 0.9% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 9 | 0.6% |
| Educational services | 8 | 0.6% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 5 | 0.4% |
| Utilities | 3 | 0.2% |
| Industries not classified | 3 | 0.2% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 42101 vs 42102 →
More ZIP Codes in Warren County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 42101 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 42101? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 42101? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 42101? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 42101? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 42101? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 42101? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 42101? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 42101? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 42101? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 42101? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 42101? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Bowling Green, KY
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
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Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.