42103 and 42104 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
42103
42104
Opportunity
55 · Top 49%
vs51 · Bottom 43%
Growth
71 · Top 14%
vs71 · Top 14%
Climate
74 · Top 32%
vs74 · Top 32%
Physical resilience
28 · Bottom 22%
vs31 · Bottom 25%
Housing affordability
91 · Top 30%
vs88 · Top 36%
Schools
67 · Top 31%
vs70 · Top 27%
Access
66 · Bottom 9%
vs71 · Bottom 13%
Economic stability
63 · Top 44%
vs63 · Top 44%
Measured values
| Metric | 42103 | 42104 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,911 | 42,076 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $87,689 | $75,164 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $61,043 | $38,032 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 311/sq mi | 726/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $331,400 | $306,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,184 | $1,029 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.0% | 61.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.7% | 5.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.6% | -0.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.4% | 40.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | 12.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 447 | 447 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.9 | 5.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 49.5% | 49.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 28°F | 28°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 50.1" | 50.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 61 mi | 53 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 21.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.8 | 37.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 5 | 11 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.94 | 17.73 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 40.4% | 40.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 45.6% | 51.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 53.2% | 51.0% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
42103
Elevated or high exposure: hail, earthquake, inland flooding.
42104
Elevated or high exposure: hail, earthquake.
Full profiles: 42103 — Bowling Green, KY · 42104 — Bowling Green, KY · How this is calculated: methodology