RANK #625 / 1001 NAT · #12 / 19 KY · POP 140,918
1YR FORECAST: -0.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +26%
Home to the General Motors Corvette Assembly Plant and the National Corvette Museum, Warren County, Kentucky, is located in the south-central part of the state, about an hour north of Nashville, Tennessee. The county seat, Bowling Green, sits along the Barren River, which, along with the Green River forming the county's northern border, offers opportunities for paddling and fishing. Interstate 65 transects the county, providing direct commutes. The area features rolling landscapes and numerous parks, including Lost River Cave, which offers underground boat tours.
Warren County maintains a quality of life that attracts families and young professionals. The public school system, Warren County Public Schools, serves over 18,000 students across 34 schools and is recognized for its academic and athletic programs. Western Kentucky University also contributes to the educational landscape. The local economy is experiencing growth, driven by investments in manufacturing, including a new Tyson Foods bacon production facility and the Envision AESC plant. Housing developments are also underway to address the demand for affordable options.
Warren County is one of 43 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +0.7% runs above the profile's typical -0.0%.
See all 43 Sun Belt Exurban Boom counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.9x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Amazon Data Center
Amazon
|
$3,000M | Planned |
|
EV Battery Gigafactory
Envision AESC
|
$2,000M | Under Construction |
|
Tyson Foods Bacon Production Facility
Tyson Foods
|
$355M | Completed |
|
Echo Trail Affordable Housing Community
LDG Development, PNC Bank, Kentucky Housing Corporation
|
$223M | Under Construction |
|
Kentucky Transpark Expansion
City of Bowling Green and Warren County
|
$46M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 37/100, Warren County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $65,794 combined with job growth of +1.5% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Warren County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $258,000 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.26, with rents averaging $1,002/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Warren County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +2.5% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.5% clip. Home values shifted +0.7% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.51% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Warren County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.