ZIP Code 42003
standardSource:
Paducah · McCracken County · Kentucky
- Population
- 29,683
- Median income
- $55,791
- Median home value
- $167,000
- Bachelor's or higher
- 24.1%
- Land area
- 180.3 sq mi
165/sq mi
▼ 27% vs US
higher than 22% of US ZIPs
▼ 40% vs US
higher than 33% of US ZIPs
Median age 41.5
Chicago
ZIP code 42003 in Paducah, Kentucky has a population of 29,683. The median household income is $55,791, which is 27% below the national average. Median home value is $167,000, 40% below the US average. 24.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 42003 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 180.3 square miles in Paducah, McCracken County, Kentucky. The area is home to 29,683 residents, producing a population density of 165 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 42003 against Kentucky and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 42003 sits at $55,791 (6% below the Kentucky average), while per-capita income is $33,441. The poverty rate stands at 17.3% and the unemployment rate at 3.8%. On housing, the median home value is $167,000 (5% above the state average) with median rent at $740 per month, and 70.8% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 42003 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 24.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.5, and the average commute is 18 minutes. We also surface 5 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 3 additional ZIPs sharing McCracken County, so you can benchmark 42003 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 42003
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 42003.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
122 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
117 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
91 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
68 establishments
- Construction
Construction
65 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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 42003, Paducah, KY · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
29,683
Population
180.3
Area (sq mi)
165
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 42003?
41.5
Median Age
48.6%
Male
51.4%
Female
2.1%
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?
$55,791
Median Household Income
-6% vs state
$33,441
Per Capita Income
17.3%
Poverty Rate
3.8%
Unemployment Rate
17.8 min
Mean Commute Time
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?
14,132
Total Housing Units
11,711
Occupied Units
2,421
Vacant Units
2.46
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$167,000
Median Home Value
+5% vs state
$740
Median Rent
1978
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
+3.1%
YoY Change (2024)
203
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+103%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 42003 have increased 3.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +103% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.0% | 143 |
| 2021 | +10.3% | 158 |
| 2022 | +16.9% | 185 |
| 2023 | +6.6% | 197 |
| 2024 | +3.1% | 203 |
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 725 business establishments in ZIP 42003, employing approximately 10,373 people with a combined annual payroll of $610,015,000.
725
Businesses
10,373
Employees
$610.0M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 122 | 16.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 117 | 16.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 91 | 12.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 68 | 9.4% |
| Construction | 65 | 9.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 46 | 6.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 43 | 5.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 40 | 5.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 31 | 4.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 25 | 3.5% |
| Manufacturing | 22 | 3.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 19 | 2.6% |
| Information | 9 | 1.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 9 | 1.2% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 7 | 1.0% |
| Educational services | 7 | 1.0% |
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 42003 vs 42027 →
More ZIP Codes in McCracken County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
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How many businesses are in ZIP code 42003? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 42003? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 42003? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 42003? ▼
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What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 42003? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 42003? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Paducah, KY
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.