PlainZIP

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
$53,670
Median income
$216,900
Median home value
41.0%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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.

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 Kentucky average), while per-capita income is $35,316. The poverty rate stands at 21.6% and the unemployment rate at 7.1%. Housing costs here run $216,900 for a typical home value (36% above the state average), with rent averaging $1,136 a month; 35.7% of homes are owner-occupied.

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. Beyond these figures, 10 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Fayette County, letting you compare 40517 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

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.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 40517?

32.3

Median Age

47.9%

Male

52.1%

Female

10.0%

Foreign-Born

White 60.2%
African American 24.7%
Asian 2.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 10.6%
Hispanic or Latino 8.7%

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

$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

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

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?

High School Graduate or Higher 61.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 41.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

18,518

Total Housing Units

17,301

Occupied Units

1,217

Vacant Units

2.05

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 35.7%
Renter 64.3%

$216,900

Median Home Value

+36% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 40517 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 40517 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

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.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
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

More ZIP Codes in Fayette County

40515 standard
Lexington, KY
Pop: 33,595
40509 standard
Lexington, KY
Pop: 32,364
40511 standard
Lexington, KY
Pop: 31,798
40503 standard
Lexington, KY
Pop: 28,003
40505 standard
Lexington, KY
Pop: 26,040
40502 standard
Lexington, KY
Pop: 25,709

Related Areas

Fayette County Lexington, KY Kentucky

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.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.