Bowling Green is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which, is land and is water. Bowling Green lies at the junction of US highways 54 and 61. US 54 links Bowling Green with Illinois to the east and Jefferson City and the Lake of the Ozarks to the south and west, while US 61 connects the city with Hannibal to the north and the St. Louis area to the south.
As of the census of 2010, there were 5,334 people, 1,316 households, and 810 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 1,474 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 79.4% White, 18.4% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population. There were 1,316 households, of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couples living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.4% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.06. The median age in the city was 35.9 years. 17% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 35.2% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 11.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 66.2% male and 33.8% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,260 people, 1,290 households, and 798 families living in the city. The population density was 1,677.0 people per square mile. There were 1,420 housing units at an average density of 730.5 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 90.64% White, 7.67% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.21% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population. There were 1,290 households, out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.03. In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $27,287, and the median income for a family was $36,619. Males had a median income of $28,871 versus $18,873 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,670. About 10.5% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.
