Lexington, KY · standard
ZIP Code 40517
Fayette County, Kentucky - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 35,227
- 2,203/sq mi High-density area
- $53,670
- Median income Below-median income area
- $216,900
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 41.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Lexington pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a suburban-density, renter-heavy area.
- 19th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 48th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 2,203
- people per sq mi
- 36%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 40517 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 40517 (Lexington, KY) rose +2.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 243.7 in 2023 to 250.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 40517 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky, with 35,227 residents across 16.0 square miles, a density of 2,203 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 40517 reports a modest median household income of $53,670 (10% below the average Kentucky ZIP), while per-capita income is $35,316. The poverty rate is 21.6%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $216,900 (36% above the average Kentucky ZIP), with only 35.7% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $1,136.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 41.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 32.3, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Fayette County, so 40517 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 40517
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Lexington, KY
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 40517.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
104 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
63 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
47 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
45 establishments
- Construction
Construction
42 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 40517, Lexington, KY · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
35,227
Population
16.0
Area (sq mi)
2,203
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 40517?
32.3
Median Age
47.9%
Male
52.1%
Female
10.0%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$53,670
Median Household Income
-10% vs state ZIP avg
$35,316
Per Capita Income
21.6%
Poverty Rate
7.1%
Unemployment Rate
23.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 40517 ranks nationally
Lexington, KY household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$53,670 19th percentile higher than 19% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
18,518housing units
18,518
Total Housing Units
17,301
Occupied Units
1,217
Vacant Units
2.05
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$216,900
Median Home Value
+36% vs state ZIP avg
$1,136
Median Rent
1980
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+2.7%
YoY Change (2024)
250
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+150%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 40517 have increased 2.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +150% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +6.5% | 166 |
| 2021 | +12.8% | 187 |
| 2022 | +12.9% | 211 |
| 2023 | +15.5% | 244 |
| 2024 | +2.7% | 250 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 508 business establishments in ZIP 40517, employing approximately 6,760 people with a combined annual payroll of $280,802,000.
508
Businesses
6,760
Employees
$280.8M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 104 | 20.5% |
| Retail trade | 63 | 12.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 47 | 9.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 45 | 8.9% |
| Construction | 42 | 8.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 42 | 8.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 41 | 8.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 39 | 7.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 37 | 7.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 13 | 2.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 12 | 2.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 7 | 1.4% |
| Information | 5 | 1.0% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 4 | 0.8% |
| Educational services | 4 | 0.8% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 40517 vs 40502 →
ZIP 40517 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 40517
Lexington (40517)
35,227 residents
- 40515
Lexington (40515)
33,595 residents
- 40509
Lexington (40509)
32,364 residents
- 40503
Lexington (40503)
28,003 residents
- 40505
Lexington (40505)
26,040 residents
- 40502
Lexington (40502)
25,709 residents
- 40504
Lexington (40504)
25,655 residents
- 40508
Lexington (40508)
23,569 residents
- 40514
Lexington (40514)
14,647 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 40517 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 40517 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 40514
Lexington (40514)
$95,914 median income
- 40509
Lexington (40509)
$94,804 median income
- 40515
Lexington (40515)
$86,268 median income
- 40502
Lexington (40502)
$76,948 median income
- 40503
Lexington (40503)
$76,482 median income
- 40505
Lexington (40505)
$58,206 median income
- 40517
Lexington (40517)
$53,670 median income
- 40504
Lexington (40504)
$46,055 median income
- 40507
Lexington (40507)
$41,329 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 40517 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40502 | Lexington, KY | 25,709 | 2.1 mi |
| 40506 | Lexington, KY | 2,802 | 3.2 mi |
| 40503 | Lexington, KY | 28,003 | 2.9 mi |
| 40507 | Lexington, KY | 1,757 | 4.4 mi |
| 40514 | Lexington, KY | 14,647 | 4.1 mi |
| 40508 | Lexington, KY | 23,569 | 4.6 mi |
| 40505 | Lexington, KY | 26,040 | 5.5 mi |
| 40504 | Lexington, KY | 25,655 | 4.9 mi |
| 40509 | Lexington, KY | 32,364 | 6.2 mi |
| 40515 | Lexington, KY | 33,595 | 6.1 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 40517, both outside KY so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (35,227 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Fayette County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 40517 in?
ZIP code 40517 (Lexington) is located in Fayette County, Kentucky. Fayette County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/fayette-ky.
What is the population of ZIP code 40517?
ZIP code 40517 in Lexington, KY has a population of 35,227 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 40517?
The median household income in ZIP 40517 is $53,670, which is 30% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 40517?
The median home value in ZIP 40517 is $216,900, which is 22% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 40517?
The largest racial group in ZIP 40517 is White at 60.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 8.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 40517?
ZIP code 40517 has 508 business establishments employing approximately 6,760 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 40517?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 40517 are: Health care and social assistance (104), Retail trade (63), Real estate and rental and leasing (47). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 40517?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 40517 increased by 2.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 150%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 40517?
In ZIP code 40517, 61.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 41.0% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 40517?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 40517 is 23.4 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 40517?
In ZIP code 40517, approximately 35.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 64.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 40517?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 40517 is 21.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 40517's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 40517 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Lexington, KY ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.