Living Cost Compare
Bowling Green

Kentucky

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,020 in Bowling Green, KY versus $1,270 in Dover, DE. Overall, Bowling Green, KY is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,419 in Bowling Green, KY and $58,336 in Dover, DE — about 17% higher in Dover, DE. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Bowling Green, KY
Dover, DE

Rent

Studio
$878
$993
+13% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$833
$1,047
+26% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$960
$1,185
+23% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,214
$1,634
+35% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,100
$248,500
+7% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$48,419
$58,336
+20% in Dover, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,040
$46,690
+4% in Dover, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.9 yr
35.1 yr
+7.2 yr in Dover, DE
Homeownership
37.3%
47.0%
+9.7 pp in Dover, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.0%
27.1%
+4.9 pp in Bowling Green, KY
Avg Commute
18.8 min
24.0 min
+5.2 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
231
1,025.3
+344% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
2,984.4
6,159.1
+106% in Dover, DE

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
58.0°F
56.9°F
+1.1°F in Bowling Green, KY
Annual Precipitation
49.9 in
46.0 in
+3.8 in in Bowling Green, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Dover, DE

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.3
19.3
+35% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.20
$29.73
+10% in Bowling Green, KY

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / DE)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
6.60%
+3.1 pp in DE

Bowling Green vs Dover — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bowling Green or Dover?
Bowling Green, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bowling Green than in Dover?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Bowling Green versus $42,000 in Dover.
Which has lower taxes, Bowling Green or Dover?
Bowling Green is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Dover under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).