Side-by-side comparison of Lexington, KY and Bowling Green, KY — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: Bowling Green has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 4.48% compared to Lexington's 4.08%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $260,000 in Lexington vs $220,000 in Bowling Green, while rents come in at $1,300/mo and $1,180/mo respectively.
Growth & appreciation: Bowling Green is growing faster at 1.2% annually vs Lexington's 0.9%. Lexington leads on home value appreciation at 3.1% per year.
Costs & risk: Property taxes are 0.81% in Lexington vs 0.8% in Bowling Green. Vacancy rates of 5.2% and 5.5% are both healthy, suggesting strong tenant demand in both markets.
Bottom line: Bowling Green edges out Lexington on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 4.48%, Bowling Green's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Lexington or Bowling Green.