ZIP Code · KY

ZIP 42101

Part of Bowling Green, KY

Pop. 65,421·Warren County·66th most expensive ZIP in Kentucky

Median rent (all units)

$1,135/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.7%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

-$797

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 42101 · $1,135

More affordable than 94% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$860

1 BR

$960

2 BR

$1,120

3 BR

$1,340

4 BR+

$1,750

Research median

$1,120/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 42101 is 7.3% below its high of $1,224 in August 2025, at $1,135 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Kentucky

Rent in ZIP 42101 changed +1.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 63 Kentucky ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.3%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($48,217) is $1,205 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,120); a 3-bedroom is $1,340.

Rank in Bowling Green

1st cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Bowling Green.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 42101. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$13,620/yr

At $1,135/mo median

Location

CityBowling Green

StateKY

CountyWarren County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.7% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.7% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 42101 (Bowling Green, KY) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 19.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

65,421

Median income

$48,217

Median age

28.1

Renters

55.3%

Age distribution

24.1%

36.6%

21.4%

Under 1824.1%

18–3436.6%

35–5421.4%

55–648%

65+9.9%

Gender

50%

Male50%

Female50%

Race & ethnicity

69%

13.1%

White69%

Black13.1%

Hispanic10.8%

Asian4.4%

Other2.7%

Education (25+)

17.6%

31.7%

31.3%

19.3%

No HS diploma17.6%

HS diploma31.7%

Some college31.3%

Bachelor's+19.3%

Housing tenure

44.7%

55.3%

Owner44.7%

Renter55.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 42101 in Bowling Green, KY has changed in 5 years

Rent

$993 → $1,135

up 14.3%

Income

$43,237 → $48,217

up 11.5%

Population

63,469 → 65,421

up 3.1%

Renter share

52.6% → 55.3%

+2.7 pts

Bachelor's+

18.9% → 19.3%

+0.4 pts

Median age

27.1 → 28.1

+1.0 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in ZIP 42101 in Bowling Green, KY has shifted from $993 to $1,135, up 14.3% since 2022. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 42101 in Bowling Green, KY now reports about $48,217, up from $43,237 in 2021. Census counts show ZIP 42101 in Bowling Green, KY adding about 1,952 residents over the five-year window, up 3.1% on net. The renter share has risen from 52.6% to 55.3%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. For context, the 2022 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 42101 in Bowling Green, KY reflects that arc in its own way.

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About renting in ZIP 42101

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 42101 covers Bowling Green, KY. The median rent here is $1,135/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $960/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,120/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($48,217/yr), ZIP 42101 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 42101?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $45,000/year (about $22/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,135/mo in ZIP 42101. The local median household income is $48,217/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 42101?

Rent in ZIP 42101 has risen 1.7% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 7.3% below its high of $1,224 in August 2025.

How does ZIP 42101 compare to other ZIPs in Kentucky?

ZIP 42101 is one of the more affordable among Kentucky ZIP codes for rent, ranking #66 of 78 at $1,135/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 42101 changed +1.7%, against a typical +3.3% across the 63 Kentucky ZIP codes Zillow tracks.