Paducah vs Bowling Green (Louisville, Allen: condos, job market, neighborhoods)

[sean&diane]

We're looking at a potential move to either Paducah or Bowling Green. Really looking to find a friendly community oriented area with a hometown feel. We really want to find a neighborhood where people get out and walk around and talk to their neighbors. Lots of kids and good schools. I work out of my home, so the job market really doesn't matter.

Looking for opinions how these areas compare. Also please recommend specific neighborhoods to look at.

Thanks!

[rnc76]

I think you can find what you are looking for in either place. A big negative to Paducah IMO is that it feels very isolated. It takes a long time to get to a decent sized city or airport. BG is 1:00 from Nashville and 1:45 from Louisville.

[kentuckydad95]

Paducah is 1.5 hours from Nashville and 2 hours from St. Louis. I guess that's isolated.

[kygman]

S & D, Paducah started something this year I thought was interesting. For a few hours on a Sunday afternoon about once a month, a big section of Broadway is shut down to vehicular traffic. The street is then opened up for bicycles, tricycles, walkers, babies in strollers, etc. They said the response has been great! I have relatives living there with a 2 year old. Said they can't think of a better town to live in. Paducah's airport can have you connected to Nashville, Chicago, Louisville, St. Louis any time. If you go to check out both Bowling Green and Paducah, make sure you go to the riverfront and look at the murals of the history of Paducah. We used to take the kids to the river to watch the barges or to Noble Park to feed the ducks and geese. I'm sure Bowling Green has a lot for families to do also, but I'm just putting in a plug for the one I know about.

[rnc76]

Originally Posted by kentuckydad95

Paducah is 1.5 hours from Nashville and 2 hours from St. Louis. I guess that's isolated.

Mapblast says it is 140 miles to Nashville and 175 to St Louis, all interstate. You'd have to be going 90+ with no traffic to make it in those times. Using that rate of speed, BG is about 45 minutes from Nashville.

[dixiegirl7]

I live in Bowling Green and would highly recommend it. It is a growing city, so if you don't like road construction it might not be for you, but a lot of that is about to be finished. We have great schools, particularly in certain areas and many great neighborhoods. With Western Kentucky University being here it adds a lot things to do also. This is a very diverse little city also due to the fact that we are a international refuge city. You will be surprised at the ethnic culture from all over the world here. A minor league ball park is being built downtown as we speak and will be surrounded by over 300 acres of downtown redevelopment including a new find arts center, various restaurants and stores and several upscale housing developments (condos). Bowling Green has eight golf courses and at least 16 city and county parks.

Before I recommend neighborhoods, what is it you are looking for. What are your children's ages? Do you prefer county or city living? That sort of thing.

[sean&diane]

Kids are 12 and 8. Definitely not interested in the city, but would like to be within 10-15 minutes of a grocery store. Looking for a neighborhood that is social and easy to meet people in.

Thanks

[Davart]

Originally Posted by rnc76

I think you can find what you are looking for in either place. A big negative to Paducah IMO is that it feels very isolated. It takes a long time to get to a decent sized city or airport. BG is 1:00 from Nashville and 1:45 from Louisville.

Who can afford to fly anymore?

Paducah has a small commercial airport that connect through Memphis.

Barkley Regional Airport

[dixiegirl7]

Originally Posted by sean&diane

Kids are 12 and 8. Definitely not interested in the city, but would like to be within 10-15 minutes of a grocery store. Looking for a neighborhood that is social and easy to meet people in.

Thanks

For it's size, Bowling Green is still very rural. Look at the Richpond area or out in the Alvaton area. Both are beautiful but still rural. If you want to be even further out try one of the surrounding counties like Allen, Barren, Simpson. You will lose what living in Warren County offers as far as schools, emergency personnel, etc. though you will be 25 to 30 minutes from Bowling Green.

[kentuckydad95]

Originally Posted by rnc76

Mapblast says it is 140 miles to Nashville and 175 to St Louis, all interstate. You'd have to be going 90+ with no traffic to make it in those times. Using that rate of speed, BG is about 45 minutes from Nashville.

I never said I was driving the speed limit!!!