Average Rent in Bowling Green, KY (2026)

Typical asking rent in Bowling Green is $1,295. Across the 3 ZIP codes with data it runs from $1,135 to $1,310, so which side of town you buy on matters as much as the city average. Data as of September 2026.

Median rent
$1,295
Average rent
$1,247
Lowest ZIP
$1,135
Highest ZIP
$1,310

Rent by ZIP code in Bowling Green

ZIP codeCountyTypical rentvs city median
42103Warren County$1,310+1%
42104Warren County$1,2950%
42101Warren County$1,135-12%

Rent by bedroom count in Bowling Green

Zillow's index above blends every unit size into one number. For a bedroom level view, these are HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for Warren County. They include utilities and sit near the 40th percentile of the market, so treat them as the low side of what a typical unit lists for.

Unit sizeFY2027 Fair Market RentChange from FY2026
Studio$920+3.5%
1 bedroom$1,020+3.6%
2 bedroom$1,199+4.0%
3 bedroom$1,438+3.9%
4 bedroom$1,959+8.5%

Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Updates when HUD publishes a new fiscal year.

Is rent going up or down in Bowling Green?

Typical rent across Warren County is $1,226 as of September 2026. That is up 1.6% from a year earlier and up 18.3% over five years.

YearTypical rent, Warren CountyChange
2021$1,069+12.8%
2022$1,143+6.9%
2023$1,191+4.3%
2024$1,226+2.9%
2025$1,214-1.0%
2026 (through September)$1,226+1.0%

Zillow Observed Rent Index for the county, all home types, last published month of each year. Each row is compared with the end of the year before it.

Bowling Green rent questions

What is the average rent in Bowling Green, KY?
Typical asking rent in Bowling Green is $1,295 a month as of September 2026, across 3 ZIP codes. By ZIP code it runs from $1,135 to $1,310.
How much is rent for a 2 bedroom in Bowling Green?
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom in Warren County is $1,199 a month including utilities. A one bedroom is $1,020 and a three bedroom is $1,438. Fair Market Rent is set near the 40th percentile, so a typical unit lists somewhat higher.
Is rent going up or down in Bowling Green?
Rent is rising. Typical rent in Warren County is $1,226 as of September 2026, up 1.6% from a year earlier.
What is the cheapest ZIP code to rent in Bowling Green?
ZIP 42101 has the lowest typical asking rent in Bowling Green at $1,135 a month, compared with $1,295 for the city overall.
How much income do you need to rent in Bowling Green?
Most landlords look for gross income of about three times the rent. At the typical Bowling Green rent of $1,295, that is about $3,885 a month, or $46,620 a year. This is a common screening rule of thumb, and individual landlords set their own.

How to use these numbers

These are Zillow Observed Rent Index values, a smoothed measure of typical asking rent for single family homes, condos, and apartments in each ZIP code. They describe what units are listed for, not what any specific unit will get. Condition, bedroom count, and the exact block all move the number.

If you are underwriting a purchase, use the ZIP figure rather than the city median, and then verify against live listings for the same bedroom count before you commit. Bowling Green sits in the Bowling Green, KY metro area.

Other Kentucky cities

Would a rental in Bowling Green cash flow?

Start the analyzer with the Bowling Green median rent of $1,295 and add a real purchase price to see cash flow, cap rate, and cash-on-cash return.