Bowling Green
RANK #404 / 996 NAT · #40 / 49 OH · POP 131,564
1YR FORECAST: -0.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +26%
Wood County, Ohio's economy is anchored by a diverse mix of industries, including educational, health and social services (24%), manufacturing (21.1%), and retail (10.9%). Bowling Green State University is a significant employer, alongside major companies like First Solar and Abbott Laboratories. First Solar is investing $270 million in a 1.5 million-square-foot research and development facility in Perrysburg Township, solidifying Ohio's role in advanced thin-film photovoltaics. Abbott Laboratories is constructing a $500 million plant in Bowling Green, projected to create 450 jobs and be fully operational by 2027. IMCO Carbide Tool also has a $39 million expansion underway, adding 92 jobs.
The real estate market reflects a balanced environment, with the median home sale price at $274,000, up 2.9% year-over-year as of February 2026. Median rent stands at $1,457, a 1.1% month-over-month increase and 3.1% year-over-year increase as of February 2026. The county's population grew by 0.2% between 2023 and 2024, primarily driven by immigration. While the county benefits from ongoing private sector investments, including nearly $1 billion in 2022, a demographic shift towards an older population (16.6% aged 65 and older in 2022) presents a long-term workforce consideration.
Below national median
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 3.2x — home prices are low 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Meta Data Center (Bowling Green Data Center)
Meta
|
$800M | Under Construction |
|
Apollo Power Generation Facility (Natural Gas Plant & Battery Storage)
Will-Power OH, LLC (subsidiary of The Williams Companies)
|
$350M | Approved |
|
Amazon Fulfillment Center (Fremont Pike)
Amazon
|
$75M | Under Construction |
|
Juliet Solar Project
Lightsource BP
|
$62M | Under Construction |
|
Amazon Warehouse (Oregon Road)
Amazon
|
$30M | Under Construction |
|
FedEx Ground Distribution Center (Bowling Green)
FedEx Ground
|
$30M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Wood County scores 59/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#404). Median household income is $70,537 and job growth is running at +1.4%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Wood County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $203,300 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.35, with rents averaging $907/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Employers in Wood County are hiring — job growth of +1.4% — but the population is close to flat (-0.3% YoY). Home values moved +0.3% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
In significant numbers — 7.26% of Wood County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.