Bowling Green, KY · standard
ZIP Code 42101
Warren County, Kentucky - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 55,648
- 76/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $48,217
- Median income Below-median income area
- $207,200
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 19.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Bowling Green pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, mixed-tenure and unusually populous area.
- 12th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 45th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 76
- people per sq mi
- 45%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 42101 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 42101 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky, with 55,648 residents across 733.2 square miles, a density of 76 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 42101 reports a modest median household income of $48,217 (19% below the average Kentucky ZIP), while per-capita income is $24,219. The poverty rate is 25.2%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $207,200 (30% above the average Kentucky ZIP), with only 44.7% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $950.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 19.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 28.1, and the average commute is 20 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Warren County, so 42101 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 42101
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Bowling Green, KY
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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, 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; 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 ZIP avg
$24,219
Per Capita Income
25.2%
Poverty Rate
4.7%
Unemployment Rate
20.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 42101 ranks nationally
Bowling Green, KY household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$48,217 12th percentile higher than 12% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. 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 · 2019–2023
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?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
26,751housing units
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 ZIP avg
$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 →
ZIP 42101 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 42101
Bowling Green (42101)
55,648 residents
- 42103 18,936
Bowling Green (42103)
18,936 residents
- 42274 2,373
Rockfield (42274)
2,373 residents
- 42102 88
Bowling Green (42102)
88 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 42101 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 42101 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 42103
Bowling Green (42103)
$87,689 median income
- 42274
Rockfield (42274)
$80,704 median income
- 42101
Bowling Green (42101)
$48,217 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 42101 ranks #3 of 3 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 42101, both outside KY so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (55,648 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Warren County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 42101 in?
ZIP code 42101 (Bowling Green) is located in Warren County, Kentucky. Warren County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/warren-ky.
What is the population of ZIP code 42101?
ZIP code 42101 in Bowling Green, KY has a population of 55,648 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 42101?
The median household income in ZIP 42101 is $48,217, which is 37% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 42101?
The median home value in ZIP 42101 is $207,200, which is 26% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 42101?
The largest racial group in ZIP 42101 is White at 69.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 10.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 42101?
ZIP code 42101 has 1,396 business establishments employing approximately 34,401 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 42101?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 42101 are: Retail trade (231), Health care and social assistance (167), Accommodation and food services (151). There are 19 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 42101?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 42101 increased by 0.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 126%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 42101?
In ZIP code 42101, 51.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 19.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 42101?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 42101 is 20.4 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 42101?
In ZIP code 42101, approximately 44.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 55.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 42101?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 42101 is 25.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 42101's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 42101 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Bowling Green, KY ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.