The Town FilesBowling Green, Missouri
City in Pike County · population 4,195 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $128,800
- Household income
- $53,295
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 35.7
Bowling Green is a city of 4,195 people in Pike County, Missouri. The median home is worth $128,800, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for retirees than 89% of Missouri towns, better for young professionals than 74% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 70% of Missouri towns.
How Bowling Green ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bowling Green is worth $128,800, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $53,295, which is more affordable than 70% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $800 a month. 52.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bowling Green | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $128,800 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $800 | $855 |
| Median household income | $53,295 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 52.1% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bowling Green
| People | Bowling Green | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.8% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.4% | 88.7% |
Weather in Bowling Green
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 18.5°F. About 40.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.6 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 117 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bowling Green since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 12, 1970 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 28, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 19, 2011.
Severe weather in Pike County since 1996
Pike County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 20, 2019 | Flood | DR-4435: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Pike County
Pike County had 5,398 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,932 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Bowling Green itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Bowling Green
4 public schools with 1,221 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOWLING GREEN ELEM. | PK-5 | 558 | 14.3 |
| BOWLING GREEN HIGH | 9-12 | 380 | 12.7 |
| BOWLING GREEN MIDDLE | 6-8 | 270 | 12.3 |
| LILLIAN SCHAPER SCHOOL | K-12 | 13 | 6.5 |
Towns near Bowling Green
- Louisiana, MO10.0 mi · 3,199 people · home $72,100
- Vandalia, MO15.5 mi · 3,553 people · home $84,500
- Hannibal, MO27.2 mi · 17,108 people · home $127,700
- Pittsfield, IL27.4 mi · 4,206 people · home $111,400
- Troy, MO28.8 mi · 12,686 people · home $226,500
Bowling Green questions
Is Bowling Green, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bowling Green scores better for retirees than 89% of Missouri towns and quieter than 48%. 15.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.7).
How much does a house cost in Bowling Green?
The median owner-occupied home in Bowling Green is valued at $128,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,295, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $800 a month.
What is the weather like in Bowling Green?
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 18.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.6 inches of precipitation a year and 15.6 inches of snow.
Does Bowling Green get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bowling Green since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 12, 1970. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)