Bowling Green vs Norman
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $241,900 in Bowling Green and $250,100 in Norman.
- Households earn more in Norman ($67,704 vs $48,873 median).
- Norman has more scorching days: 69 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 47.
- Bowling Green is growing faster: +8.6% since 2020 vs +2.3%.
- Commutes are shorter in Bowling Green (18 vs 23 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Bowling Green, KY | Norman, OK | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 78,505 | 130,943 |
| Growth since 2020 | +8.6% | +2.3% |
| People per square mile | 1,870 | 733 |
| Median age | 28.7 | 32.5 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31% | 46% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $48,873 | $67,704 |
| Median home value | $241,900 | $250,100 |
| Home value to income | 4.9× | 3.7× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $998 | $1,090 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 90.2 | 90.4 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 63.4 | 73.9 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $67,600 | $67,800 |
| Homeowners | 37% | 53% |
| Top state income tax | 3.5% | 4.5% |
| Combined sales tax | 6% | 9.06% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 17.8 | 22.6 |
| Work from home | 6% | 12% |
| Take public transit | 0% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 4.9% | 5.7% |
| Poverty rate | 25.6% | 16.8% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 46° / 28° | 50° / 28° |
| July high / low | 90° / 70° | 93° / 71° |
| Precipitation per year | 50 in | 38 in |
| Snowfall per year | 9 in | 4 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 47 | 69 |
| Nights below freezing | 81 | 76 |
| Comfortable months | 2 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 88.5 | 91.3 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 76% | 44% |
| Home prices, past year | +2.8% | +2.4% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +45.1% | +36.4% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Bowling Green: September to October. Norman: April and September to October.
Full monthly tables: Bowling Green weather by month and Norman weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $67,600 in Bowling Green and $67,800 in Norman. Moving from Bowling Green to Norman, you would need about $75,200 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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