PlainZIP

Bowling Green, KY · standard

ZIP Code 42104

Warren County, Kentucky - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

29,610
204/sq mi
$75,164
Median income
$306,400
Median home value
40.8%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Bowling Green pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 45%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 33%
home value, US ZIPs
204
people per sq mi
62%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 42104 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 42104 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky, with 29,610 residents across 145.4 square miles, a density of 204 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 42104 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $75,164 (26% above the Kentucky average), while per-capita income is $38,032. The poverty rate stands at 12.4% and the unemployment rate at 5.5%. The typical home here is valued at $306,400 (93% above the state average); renters pay a median of $1,029 monthly, and 61.7% of units are owner-occupied.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 40.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37, and the average commute is 20 minutes. We also surface 4 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Warren County, so you can benchmark 42104 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone.

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 42104

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Bowling Green, KY

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 42104.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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 42104, 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

29,610

Population

145.4

Area (sq mi)

204

People / sq mi

Chicago

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 42104?

37.0

Median Age

48.1%

Male

51.9%

Female

13.2%

Foreign-Born

White 75.6%
African American 7.0%
Asian 8.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 1.1%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.5%
Hispanic or Latino 4.5%

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?

$75,164

Median Household Income

+26% vs state

$38,032

Per Capita Income

12.4%

Poverty Rate

5.5%

Unemployment Rate

19.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 42104 ranks nationally

Bowling Green, KY household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$75,164 Top 45% higher than 55% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

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?

High School Graduate or Higher 64.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 40.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

17,842

Total Housing Units

17,045

Occupied Units

797

Vacant Units

2.45

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 61.7%
Renter 38.3%

$306,400

Median Home Value

+93% vs state

$1,029

Median Rent

1996

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

+2.8%

YoY Change (2024)

220

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+120%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 42104 have increased 2.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +120% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +1.5% 156
2021 +9.3% 170
2022 +16.6% 198
2023 +7.8% 214
2024 +2.8% 220

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 944 business establishments in ZIP 42104, employing approximately 15,315 people with a combined annual payroll of $559,534,000.

944

Businesses

15,315

Employees

$559.5M

Annual Payroll

17

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 208 22.0%
Health care and social assistance 130 13.8%
Accommodation and food services 120 12.7%
Other services (except public administration) 87 9.2%
Finance and insurance 76 8.1%
Real estate and rental and leasing 65 6.9%
Construction 62 6.6%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 53 5.6%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 45 4.8%
Transportation and warehousing 24 2.5%
Wholesale trade 17 1.8%
Information 15 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 13 1.4%
Educational services 10 1.1%
Manufacturing 7 0.7%
Management of companies and enterprises 7 0.7%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction 5 0.5%

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 42104 vs 42122 →

ZIP 42104 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 42104 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 42104 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 42104 ranks #4 of 4 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
42122 Alvaton, KY 4,368 5.3 mi
42102 Bowling Green, KY 88 8.8 mi
42170 Woodburn, KY 1,403 7.3 mi
42103 Bowling Green, KY 18,936 8.2 mi

More ZIP Codes in Warren County

42101 standard
Bowling Green, KY
Pop: 55,648
42103 standard
Bowling Green, KY
Pop: 18,936
42171 standard
Smiths Grove, KY
Pop: 6,841
42122 standard
Alvaton, KY
Pop: 4,368
42274 standard
Rockfield, KY
Pop: 2,373
42170 standard
Woodburn, KY
Pop: 1,403

Related Areas

Warren County Bowling Green, KY Kentucky

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 42104 in? ▼
ZIP code 42104 (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 42104? ▼
ZIP code 42104 in Bowling Green, KY has a population of 29,610 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 42104? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 42104 is $75,164, which is 1% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 42104? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 42104 is $306,400, which is 10% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 42104? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 42104 is White at 75.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 42104? ▼
ZIP code 42104 has 944 business establishments employing approximately 15,315 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 42104? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 42104 are: Retail trade (208), Health care and social assistance (130), Accommodation and food services (120). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 42104? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 42104 increased by 2.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 120%. 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 42104? ▼
In ZIP code 42104, 64.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 40.8% 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 42104? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 42104 is 19.9 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 42104? ▼
In ZIP code 42104, approximately 61.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 38.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 42104? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 42104 is 12.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

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