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We will definitely be moving to the Bowling Green area this summer -- we are very excited to get out of the northeast. We could possible end up in Bowling Green itself, but looking for recommendations of towns within 30 min of Bowling Green (probably prefer south-ish of BG so not any further from Nashville airport for easy travel). We would prefer more rural over more city, but still would like to have a 10 min drive to a grocery store etc.
I know these can only be DM'd -- but if anyone has recommendations for a realtor who would be willing to do some initial remote scouting for us, I'd appreciate recommendations.
Also, what are utilities like in the BG area (electric rates, water rates, etc)? Does it vary a lot by what county you end up in?
Anything else you think we should know -- what you love about the area, what you don't like -- I'm all ears!
Hello, I live in Bowling Green, and my suggestion would be, live in Bowling Green for a while by renting an apartment, store your furniture and travel to surrounding areas, don't make the mistake of moving to an area and buying a home and then not like it where you are....
The traffic in Bowling Green on Scottsville Road is terrible, but the good news is, there are no pot holes, and the people who live here are nice.
What I don't like about BG are the drivers, terrible, terrible drivers.
You will not find the restaurants you are used to back east, believe me, that you will miss and when I say you don't know what you had until it's gone. What I do not like about Bowling Green are the restaurants, it's tons of Chains and fast food places...and no great diners to speak of...they are mostly open for breakfast and lunch and then close at 2 p.m. The finer dining opens up around 5 p.m. and there are not many....BG needs some chefs from Back east to come out here and open diners and restaurants, they'd make a killing, b/c people here love to eat out and on weekends, places are packed. There are also not many Italian restarants other than Olive Garden, plus a few smaller places but nothing like back home and Pizza doesn't compare. So believe me when I say, don't expect much in the way of great diners and restuarants...it's basically all the same, even the Chinese here who own restaurants do not know how to make fried rice....restaurants here are getting extremely expensive.
There are many rural areas, surrounding Bowling Green, so you might find something to your liking...
just be forwarned we are on the tip of Tornado Alley....
I know this isn't the answer you might have been looking for, but honestly, you'd be wise to rent an apartment for year and visit surrounding areas until you've found what you like. We are a little over an hour from Nashville but the traffic in and out of Nashville, is horrific, plus, while the restaurants are great, it's very expensive....
As far as utilities are concerned, I believe they are the same as any place else, probably a bit cheaper then what your used to.....
I moved here 4 years ago from SE PA and at that time, rents were resonable as well as utilities...but no more. A lot of corporations buying up rental properties.....and raised the rents...
There isn't much in Bowling Green, to do, and the stores do not carry what your used to back east...although they are getting a tad better...I lived in the Northeast for 20 years...loved it, but the winters were tough....I was born and raised in SE PA and enjoyed it, but again, the winters for me, were cold, long and rough....
Here the winters are milder, very little snow, flurries, at best....accumulations, 1/2 to 1 inch of snow and milder winters....although where I lived the winters have gotten a little milder there as well.
Wishing you the best, sure hope more people come in to comment their views and knowledge.
Oh, as far as doctors and hospitals, again, it isn't what you had back in the Northeast, but, they are not bad...they are growing and more and more doctors are moving into the area...some prefer to go to specialists in Nashville....
Apartments are in high demand here....
Well, best of luck to you
Last edited by cremebrulee; 04-13-2023 at 08:03 PM..
I forgot to tell you, we have two Utility Companies serving Bowling Green, that I know of....I first had BGMU, who were pretty reasonable, then moved into Warren County, and now have Warren RECC Electric and they are outrageous, they charge me more than an additional $30.00 or more on top of my usage, for their fees, including school tax? BGMU were much more reasonable....but that was 4 years ago, can't speak for them now....but I understand a lot of people are fed up with Warren RECC and their charges...
You do not have to have your automobile inspected, however, every year you pay a charge for your car, and depending on how new it is, it is expensive...I own a 2020 Toyota and pay $419.00 includes my registration fee, quite high, plus cars here in BG are much higher in cost than back east.
Hello, I live in Bowling Green, and my suggestion would be, live in Bowling Green for a while by renting an apartment, store your furniture and travel to surrounding areas, don't make the mistake of moving to an area and buying a home and then not like it where you are....
The traffic in Bowling Green on Scottsville Road is terrible, but the good news is, there are no pot holes, and the people who live here are nice.
What I don't like about BG are the drivers, terrible, terrible drivers.
You will not find the restaurants you are used to back east, believe me, that you will miss and when I say you don't know what you had until it's gone. What I do not like about Bowling Green are the restaurants, it's tons of Chains and fast food places...and no great diners to speak of...they are mostly open for breakfast and lunch and then close at 2 p.m. The finer dining opens up around 5 p.m. and there are not many....BG needs some chefs from Back east to come out here and open diners and restaurants, they'd make a killing, b/c people here love to eat out and on weekends, places are packed. There are also not many Italian restarants other than Olive Garden, plus a few smaller places but nothing like back home and Pizza doesn't compare. So believe me when I say, don't expect much in the way of great diners and restuarants...it's basically all the same, even the Chinese here who own restaurants do not know how to make fried rice....restaurants here are getting extremely expensive.
There are many rural areas, surrounding Bowling Green, so you might find something to your liking...
just be forwarned we are on the tip of Tornado Alley....
I know this isn't the answer you might have been looking for, but honestly, you'd be wise to rent an apartment for year and visit surrounding areas until you've found what you like. We are a little over an hour from Nashville but the traffic in and out of Nashville, is horrific, plus, while the restaurants are great, it's very expensive....
As far as utilities are concerned, I believe they are the same as any place else, probably a bit cheaper then what your used to.....
I moved here 4 years ago from SE PA and at that time, rents were resonable as well as utilities...but no more. A lot of corporations buying up rental properties.....and raised the rents...
There isn't much in Bowling Green, to do, and the stores do not carry what your used to back east...although they are getting a tad better...I lived in the Northeast for 20 years...loved it, but the winters were tough....I was born and raised in SE PA and enjoyed it, but again, the winters for me, were cold, long and rough....
Here the winters are milder, very little snow, flurries, at best....accumulations, 1/2 to 1 inch of snow and milder winters....although where I lived the winters have gotten a little milder there as well.
Wishing you the best, sure hope more people come in to comment their views and knowledge.
Oh, as far as doctors and hospitals, again, it isn't what you had back in the Northeast, but, they are not bad...they are growing and more and more doctors are moving into the area...some prefer to go to specialists in Nashville....
Apartments are in high demand here....
Well, best of luck to you
My brother lived near Harrisburg, PA for a number of years. While you and others may disagree, I believe that KY has a brighter outlook than PA overall, primarily due to the fact that KY seems to more heavily invest in local infrastructure projects compared to PA and has a stronger pro-business climate. Of course, PA is more business-friendly than NJ, NY, RI, etc., but that's not saying much, LOL. IMO, PA more heavily relies on infrastructure that was developed 50-100 years ago and never improved to accommodate population growth. Needless to say, PA has a rather threadbare character than is noticeably less common in KY. In fact, the reason I selected KY over TN is because I found the character of TN (outside of the Nashville metropolitan area) to be reminiscent of PA; KY feels and looks more like the Midwestern states by comparison.
My brother lived near Harrisburg, PA for a number of years. While you and others may disagree, I believe that KY has a brighter outlook than PA overall, primarily due to the fact that KY seems to more heavily invest in local infrastructure projects compared to PA and has a stronger pro-business climate. Of course, PA is more business-friendly than NJ, NY, RI, etc., but that's not saying much, LOL. IMO, PA more heavily relies on infrastructure that was developed 50-100 years ago and never improved to accommodate population growth. Needless to say, PA has a rather threadbare character than is noticeably less common in KY. In fact, the reason I selected KY over TN is because I found the character of TN (outside of the Nashville metropolitan area) to be reminiscent of PA; KY feels and looks more like the Midwestern states by comparison.
Gosh I am so very sorry if I gave you the wrong impression, the OP asked "what do you or don't you like about Bowling Green"......which I was pointing out....I believe the school systems have changed...for the worst....I know they must go by government regulations....but I'm surprised upon my Grand daughter's graduation, what she doesn't know....
You are correct about PA, NY and NJ, however, I was born and raised there, so....but I will say, years ago I made a friend from Mississippi, and she told me she felt PA people only inquired about you to gain information from you and not because they cared....
I find people in Bowling Green, are nice because they are nice people, hospitable and genuine...and the roads in BG are exceptionally great....I moved here b/c my family is here, and since my health problems got worse, my son thought it was time for me to make the move.
I am not sorry I moved here, except the restauarants, here are terrible...I'm sorry, but they are....I being single used to go out to eat 3 or 4 times a week and I no longer do so here....and unless you live in PA NJ or NJ, you wouldn't know what I was talking about. Many people here feel the same way...they say they drive down to Nashville to get a good meal, but Nashville is expensive. Most doctors that I go to, say the same thing...escpecially transplants...locals are not used to anything else, therefore, they find the restaurants great, but it's mostly fast food and you won't find a decent diner, like back home that is open all day and has tons of selections, even in desserts...when we first took my daughter in law to a diner back home and several nicer restaurants, she was overwhelmed and could not believe all the selections, and how great the food tasted. I recommended to one of my doctors, who told me his wife is a chef, to send her back east to cullinary school and when she comes back to open a diner, and she'll make money b/c people here love to go out to eat.
There is nothing else I don't like about BG, and I believe things are still less expensive here, except for apartments, they have raised the rents astronomically since I moved here....and there is no way I'd purchase my own home again...can't keep up with the work....and not ready for a nursing home.
I love it here, but miss home, my friends and of course the restaurants/diners.....but otherwise, the people are exceptionally nice and love the fact I do not have to dodge pot holes....the roads here are great...college is great....but crime is certainly on the upswing since they've opened the borders...when I first moved here, crime was not what it is now...but you have that all over.
And yes, Kentucky certainly does invest in infostructure, and community, which is what I love about it. Down Town BG is beautiful.
I do miss the local farmers markets that we had back home, which was a combination of everything, besides produce, you had meats, baked goods, etc...and of course, the beaches in NJ, going to NY for the day/China Town....would you believe the chinese here cannot make a good tasty fried rice....I buy a frozen fried rice, and make it...here they throw white rice in a frier and thats it, no taste, no veggies or eggs...Philly has to offer great food and hisorical sights...as well as the arts....BG does the same but on a much smaller scope...and oh how I miss going to NY to see the shows...no matter where you move, there is always a trade off...we have milder weather here in winter, and I get to watch my kids grow.....
I forgot to tell you, we have two Utility Companies serving Bowling Green, that I know of....I first had BGMU, who were pretty reasonable, then moved into Warren County, and now have Warren RECC Electric and they are outrageous, they charge me more than an additional $30.00 or more on top of my usage, for their fees, including school tax? BGMU were much more reasonable....but that was 4 years ago, can't speak for them now....but I understand a lot of people are fed up with Warren RECC and their charges...
You do not have to have your automobile inspected, however, every year you pay a charge for your car, and depending on how new it is, it is expensive...I own a 2020 Toyota and pay $419.00 includes my registration fee, quite high, plus cars here in BG are much higher in cost than back east.
AFAIK Bowling Green is in TVA country so should be cheap. The 2 Utilities mentioned wholesale power to you. Both may be units of the county government. You will have to lookup to see differences in charges.
AFAIK Bowling Green is in TVA country so should be cheap. The 2 Utilities mentioned wholesale power to you. Both may be units of the county government. You will have to lookup to see differences in charges.
It is what it is, I was just telling the person about the two utility companies and what I thought about the costs....
I don't believe it is cheap, the one I have now, Warren WRECC, charges you more than 30.00 above your usage charge which is to me, highway robbery, and others who have it are also up in air about them. I had a 3 bedroom 2 bath apartment before it was huge, with huge drafty windows....and my electric was cheaper, now I have a 2 bdr. Apartment, with less square footage, and WRECC is much more expensive and they tack a school tax on it? Every single month.
^We pay school tax on our water bill also, but I just checked it was only like $2.00 a month. I am not going to lose sleep over that one. Water bills can vary greatly though, depending on the company and the location. Our water bill was much lower in Louisville than what it is in Lexington. (But I am okay with it, I would rather be living in Lexington than Louisville, and a few bucks isn't going to break the bank.)
(I have vague memories of when I was a child, of my Dad in Louisville ranting and raving over the "sinking fund" that they had in Louisville, he use to call it the 'stinking fund'!)
Last edited by Crazee Cat Lady; 04-23-2023 at 10:32 AM..
^We pay school tax on our water bill also, but I just checked it was only like $2.00 a month. I am not going to lose sleep over that one. Water bills can vary greatly though, depending on the company and the location. Our water bill was much lower in Louisville than what it is in Lexington. (But I am okay with it, I would rather be living in Lexington than Louisville, and a few bucks isn't going to break the bank.)
(I have vague memories of when I was a child, of my Dad in Louisville ranting and raving over the "sinking fund" that they had in Louisville, he use to call it the 'stinking fund'!)
I used to feel the same way but then I thought how many people are living in the area then also realize the school taxes they collect off of property owners why they are making a fortune. And yes paid a school tax on my water bills, but they tax you to death. It’s crazy! It’s the same with the gas taxes they impose, my gosh it’s a dollar here two dollars there now times that by the population
And yes a few bucks doesn’t break the bank but then consider how many people are paying that? This is going on all over America
^We pay school tax on our water bill also, but I just checked it was only like $2.00 a month. I am not going to lose sleep over that one. Water bills can vary greatly though, depending on the company and the location. Our water bill was much lower in Louisville than what it is in Lexington. (But I am okay with it, I would rather be living in Lexington than Louisville, and a few bucks isn't going to break the bank.)
(I have vague memories of when I was a child, of my Dad in Louisville ranting and raving over the "sinking fund" that they had in Louisville, he use to call it the 'stinking fund'!)
yanno I was just thinking, you pay school tax on your water bill, your electric bill and on your property taxes...what a rip!
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