Photo: OPMaster · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Bowling Green is healthier than 62%
Bowling Green differs from Kentucky on 16 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bowling Green. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bowling Green
Bowling Green is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Bowling Green is healthier than 26%. Against the 5,341 towns with similar household incomes ($37K–$61K), it’s healthier than 62%. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Bowling Green
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (22.5%), vs 15.5% across Kentucky. No reliable transportation (13% vs 8.8%) and utility shut-off threats (12% vs 8.8%) are higher too. 22.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Bowling Green looks healthier next to Kentucky than next to the country
It’s healthier than 47% of the 141 Kentucky towns we grade, but 26% of towns nationwide. Much of Kentucky scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
1 in 11 working-age adults in Bowling Green has no health insurance
9% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.4% across Kentucky. Checkups ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Bowling Green
Bowling Green runs below Kentucky on five chronic conditions, most of all cancer (6.1% vs 8.7%), heart disease (6.3% vs 8.2%) and arthritis (25.7% vs 32.2%). A young population is part of it: only 11% of residents are 65 or older (Kentucky 17%). Conditions ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Kentucky figure falls outside Bowling Green’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Bowling Green’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bowling Green is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns, #75 of 141 in Kentucky. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 49% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 6%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Bowling Green’s median household income is $48,873; among the 5,341 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$61K), it’s healthier than 62%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Kentucky towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Bowling Green is healthier than 47% of graded towns, against 26% nationally.
Where Bowling Green compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 32.3% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.1% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
22.7% of Bowling Green adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bowling Green adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
Out of every 100 Bowling Green adults…
Bowling Green runs below KY on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Bowling Green residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Kentucky. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Bowling Green
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Bowling Green, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Bowling Green; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Kentucky
Share of adults, with the Kentucky figure marked.
43 miles of trails across 22 parks and preserves
How Bowling Green adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Bowling Green runs above Kentucky.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Bowling Green and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | C | 37% | 12.1% | 18.2% | CDC place |
| Plum Springs | — | — | — | — |
Plum Springs: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bowling Green adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bowling Green
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bowling Green is better than Kentucky on 7 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Bowling Green’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bowling Green | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.8%21.4–26.3 | 22.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.9%13.2–16.6 | 15.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.7%18.7–22.9 | 17.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37%30.6–43.7 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.1%10.6–13.8 | 13.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.9%28.7–35.3 | 38.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.3%28.8–36.1 | 36.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 25.7%22.7–28.7 | 32.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.2–13.1 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.1%5.5–6.7 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.3%5.7–6.9 | 8.2% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 8.7%7.8–9.6 | 10.2% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.2–3.7 | 4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.3%17.9–24.9 | 18.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.2%16–20.5 | 18.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.1%24–32.4 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.1%11.4–17.2 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.2%35–47.4 | 39.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9%7.8–10.3 | 5.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.5%71.4–79.2 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.6%48.8–56.3 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 77.7%74.7–80.8 | 84.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76%73.2–78.6 | 81.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.2%58.2–68.1 | 65.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.2%65.2–80.2 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.6%23.8–31.6 | 26.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.3%21.9–29.1 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.5%20.4–24.7 | 15.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.8%14.1–17.7 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12%10.5–13.5 | 8.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13%11.8–14.2 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22.7%20.5–24.9 | 14.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.4%35.1–43.8 | 37.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.6%13.9–17.4 | 17.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.2%19.1–23.4 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.7–8.5 | 9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 7.3%6.6–7.9 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.3%10.2–12.4 | 9.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.8%4.4–5.2 | 4.4% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Kentucky figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Bowling Green
Is Bowling Green a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bowling Green is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #75 of 141 in Kentucky. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bowling Green?
CDC estimates 37% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.6% and 43.7%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bowling Green?
Tristar Greenview Regional Hospital in Bowling Green, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Bowling Green’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bowling Green have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.8–10.3%), against 5.4% across Kentucky.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Bowling Green more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bowling Green.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Kentucky figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.