PlainZIP

Cave City, KY · standard

ZIP Code 42127

Barren County, Kentucky - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

6,199
27/sq mi
$42,893
Median income
$164,000
Median home value
12.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Cave City pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, mixed-tenure area.

7th pct
household income, US ZIPs
32th pct
home value, US ZIPs
27
people per sq mi
51%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 42127 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 42127 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Cave City, Barren County, Kentucky, home to 6,199 residents across 229.6 square miles, a density of 27 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 42127 reports a modest median household income of $42,893 (28% below the Kentucky average), while per-capita income is $25,056. Poverty here runs at 22.8%, with unemployment measured at 7.3%. On housing, the median home value is $164,000 (3% above the state average) with median rent at $713 per month, and 50.9% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 12.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43.9, and the average commute is 26 minutes. To put 42127 in local context, 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 5 additional ZIPs in Barren County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 42127

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Cave City, KY

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 42127.

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 42127, Cave City, 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

6,199

Population

229.6

Area (sq mi)

27

People / sq mi

Chicago

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 42127?

43.9

Median Age

47.1%

Male

52.9%

Female

3.4%

Foreign-Born

White 90.4%
African American 3.0%
Asian 1.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 3.1%
Hispanic or Latino 2.7%

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?

$42,893

Median Household Income

-28% vs state

$25,056

Per Capita Income

22.8%

Poverty Rate

7.3%

Unemployment Rate

26.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 42127 ranks nationally

Cave City, KY household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$42,893 7th percentile higher than 7% 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 56.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 12.1%

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

What does housing look like?

3,257

Total Housing Units

3,012

Occupied Units

245

Vacant Units

2.33

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 50.9%
Renter 49.1%

$164,000

Median Home Value

+3% vs state

$713

Median Rent

1987

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

-8.2%

YoY Change (2024)

225

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+125%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 42127 have decreased 8.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +125% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +1.5% 156
2021 +9.6% 171
2022 +19.1% 203
2023 +20.5% 245
2024 -8.2% 225

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 100 business establishments in ZIP 42127, employing approximately 938 people with a combined annual payroll of $27,505,000.

100

Businesses

938

Employees

$27.5M

Annual Payroll

12

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 24 24.0%
Accommodation and food services 22 22.0%
Health care and social assistance 11 11.0%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 8 8.0%
Construction 6 6.0%
Wholesale trade 5 5.0%
Manufacturing 4 4.0%
Real estate and rental and leasing 4 4.0%
Other services (except public administration) 4 4.0%
Transportation and warehousing 3 3.0%
Finance and insurance 3 3.0%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 3 3.0%

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 42127 vs 42749 →

ZIP 42127 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 42127 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 42127 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 42127 ranks #3 of 3 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
42749 Horse Cave, KY 5,245 5.4 mi
42160 Park City, KY 1,992 8.6 mi

More ZIP Codes in Barren County

42141 standard
Glasgow, KY
Pop: 30,349
42160 standard
Park City, KY
Pop: 1,992
42123 standard
Austin, KY
Pop: 840
42156 standard
Lucas, KY
Pop: 254
42130 standard
Eighty Eight, KY
Pop: 175

Related Areas

Barren County Cave City, KY Kentucky

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 42127 in? ▼
ZIP code 42127 (Cave City) is located in Barren County, Kentucky. Barren County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/barren-ky.
What is the population of ZIP code 42127? ▼
ZIP code 42127 in Cave City, KY has a population of 6,199 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 42127? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 42127 is $42,893, which is 44% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 42127? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 42127 is $164,000, which is 41% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 42127? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 42127 is White at 90.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 42127? ▼
ZIP code 42127 has 100 business establishments employing approximately 938 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 42127? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 42127 are: Retail trade (24), Accommodation and food services (22), Health care and social assistance (11). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 42127? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 42127 decreased by 8.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 125%. 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 42127? ▼
In ZIP code 42127, 56.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 12.1% 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 42127? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 42127 is 26.4 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 42127? ▼
In ZIP code 42127, approximately 50.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 49.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 42127? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 42127 is 22.8% 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.