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Bowling Green, OH

Census place 3907972 · pop 29,983

D−45/ 100
🫤 Rough
D−
in OH
📍 Ohio ranks #28 of 50 states →
🏆 Commute18 min · top 12%
🚽 Mental23.0% · bottom 1%
💡 Did you know?

Home of Bowling Green State University.

Source ↗
Taxes
1.17% property · US 0.99%7.29% sales · US 7.00%2.75% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

Google Maps ↗Zillow ↗Wikipedia ↗

The breakdown — worst first

Poor mental health23.0%1

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

23.0% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Homeownership34.1%2

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

34.1% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Poverty rate28.6%4

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

28.6% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Median household income$45,1546

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$45,154 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Population growth (5yr)-4.9%8

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-4.9% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Income inequality0.4914

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.49 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.6%18

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.6% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Adult obesity38.1%30

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

38.1% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Property-tax burden1.17%40

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.17% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Physical inactivity25.6%47

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

25.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Adult smoking13.4%48

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

13.4% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Broadband access91.9%52

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

91.9% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Uninsured adults9.1%54

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

9.1% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Air quality (AQI)County-level41 AQI62

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

41 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level1 days62

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

1 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Housing cost$226,10064

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$226,100 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Bachelor's degree or higher44.2%75

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

44.2% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level64/10080

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

64/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Rent$1,283/mo83

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,283/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Commute time18 min88

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

18 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Not measured for Bowling Green: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Bowling Green, OH a good place to live?
By the numbers, Bowling Green scores 45/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is commute time and its weakest is poor mental health. Ohio overall ranks #28 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Bowling Green, OH expensive to live in?
Bowling Green has a median home value of $226,100 and typical rent around $1,283/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Bowling Green, OH?
Its weakest measured area is poor mental health (23.0%) — 1/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Bowling Green, OH best at?
Its strongest measured area is commute time (18 min) — 88/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Home of Bowling Green State University.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.