Bowling Green: Economy & Jobs
Bowling Green's typical household earns $82,500 (1.1× below Caroline County median $87,407; 1.1× below Virginia median $93,170), with homes at a median value of $336,300. The surrounding county supports 6,591 jobs (avg $48,154).
- $67,180 avg taxable income per return — lower than the median household income (vs Virginia $92,983).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $82,500 — below the Virginia median ($92,968). Poverty rate 14.6% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 44% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 4.1× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 7.9% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 43.8% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 14.6% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 2.4% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $15,590 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $1,047,333 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $67,180 (vs Virginia $92,983) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $79,027 |
| Median Household Income | $82,500 (vs Virginia $92,968) |
| Poverty Rate | 14.6% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | upper-middle |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $82,500 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 4.1% — near the U.S. average of ~4%. 7% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 6.6% |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Primary Mode | drove alone |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 6,591 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $317,365,347 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $48,154 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 3,981,130 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% (vs Virginia 2.9%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 176 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 10,575 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 60.10 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Grain, Corn, Soybeans, Vegetable Totals |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 424 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 4,611 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 189,578 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 4 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 22 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 8 |
| Local Businesses · Real Estate Offices | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Commercial Banks | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Insurance Agencies | 7 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 16 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 13 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (1)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Food Lion 1087 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 5 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | BEDFORD AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION INC |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $257,497,206 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 8,336.75 (vs Virginia $14,580) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 30,887 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 87.9% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 0.9% |
| Pct Walked | 6.6% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 31.9 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 32.3% |
| Retirement Score · Factors | strong SS base |
| Retirement Score · Rating | limited |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12