At $1,041/mo, rent takes about 28% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,041 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: August 17, 2026
What the numbers show
30% of the median household income ($45,154) is $1,129 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,030); a 3-bedroom is $1,340.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Bowling Green. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Bowling Green, OH is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 44.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Bowling Green, OH has changed in 5 years
Household income in the area moved from $37,356 to $45,154 across the same window, up 20.9% versus 2021. Census counts show Bowling Green, OH losing about 732 residents over the five-year window, down 2.4% on net.
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Can you afford rent in Bowling Green on your salary?
At $1,041/mo, how Bowling Green rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Bowling Green rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Bowling Green. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Bowling Green
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Bowling Green is $1,041/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $730/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,030/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $790/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,340/mo.
At 28% of local median household income ($45,154/yr), Bowling Green ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Bowling Green?
How does Bowling Green rent compare to other cities in Ohio?
At $1,041/mo, rent takes ~28% of Bowling Green's median household income ($45,154/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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