PlainZIP

Somerset, KY · standard

ZIP Code 42501

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

17,592
34/sq mi
$48,965
Median income
$142,200
Median home value
17.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Somerset pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

13th pct
household income, US ZIPs
23th pct
home value, US ZIPs
34
people per sq mi
63%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 42501 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 42501 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Somerset, Pulaski County, Kentucky, home to 17,592 residents across 517.4 square miles, a density of 34 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 42501 reports a modest median household income of $48,965 (18% below the Kentucky average), while per-capita income is $26,563. Local economic indicators show a 24.3% poverty rate alongside 4.1% unemployment. The typical home here is valued at $142,200 (11% below the state average); renters pay a median of $748 monthly, and 63.3% of units are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 17.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.5, and the average commute is 26 minutes. To put 42501 in local context, 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Pulaski 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 42501

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Somerset, KY

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 42501.

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 42501, Somerset, 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

17,592

Population

517.4

Area (sq mi)

34

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 42501?

40.5

Median Age

48.3%

Male

51.7%

Female

1.2%

Foreign-Born

White 92.3%
African American 2.1%
Asian 0.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.2%
Hispanic or Latino 4.9%

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?

$48,965

Median Household Income

-18% vs state

$26,563

Per Capita Income

24.3%

Poverty Rate

4.1%

Unemployment Rate

25.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 42501 ranks nationally

Somerset, KY household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$48,965 13th percentile higher than 13% 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 54.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 17.6%

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

What does housing look like?

8,281

Total Housing Units

7,079

Occupied Units

1,202

Vacant Units

2.50

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 63.3%
Renter 36.7%

$142,200

Median Home Value

-11% vs state

$748

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

+8.6%

YoY Change (2024)

244

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+144%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 42501 have increased 8.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +144% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +7.9% 168
2021 +14.0% 191
2022 +9.2% 209
2023 +7.7% 225
2024 +8.6% 244

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 700 business establishments in ZIP 42501, employing approximately 10,671 people with a combined annual payroll of $446,517,000.

700

Businesses

10,671

Employees

$446.5M

Annual Payroll

17

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 164 23.4%
Health care and social assistance 90 12.9%
Accommodation and food services 78 11.1%
Finance and insurance 69 9.9%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 61 8.7%
Other services (except public administration) 53 7.6%
Construction 33 4.7%
Real estate and rental and leasing 32 4.6%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 29 4.1%
Manufacturing 24 3.4%
Wholesale trade 23 3.3%
Information 11 1.6%
Transportation and warehousing 8 1.1%
Educational services 8 1.1%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 8 1.1%
Utilities 4 0.6%
Management of companies and enterprises 3 0.4%

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 42501 vs 42533 →

ZIP 42501 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 42501 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 42501 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 42501 ranks #2 of 4 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
42533 Ferguson, KY 802 7.9 mi
42503 Somerset, KY 22,894 7.8 mi
42519 Burnside, KY 3,191 9.7 mi

More ZIP Codes in Pulaski County

42503 standard
Somerset, KY
Pop: 22,894
42567 standard
Eubank, KY
Pop: 6,007
42544 standard
Nancy, KY
Pop: 5,843
42553 standard
Science Hill, KY
Pop: 5,284
42519 standard
Burnside, KY
Pop: 3,191
42518 standard
Bronston, KY
Pop: 2,914

Related Areas

Pulaski County Somerset, KY Kentucky

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 42501 in? ▼
ZIP code 42501 (Somerset) is located in Pulaski County, Kentucky. Pulaski County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/pulaski-ky.
What is the population of ZIP code 42501? ▼
ZIP code 42501 in Somerset, KY has a population of 17,592 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 42501? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 42501 is $48,965, which is 36% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 42501? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 42501 is $142,200, which is 49% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 42501? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 42501 is White at 92.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 42501? ▼
ZIP code 42501 has 700 business establishments employing approximately 10,671 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 42501? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 42501 are: Retail trade (164), Health care and social assistance (90), Accommodation and food services (78). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 42501? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 42501 increased by 8.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 144%. 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 42501? ▼
In ZIP code 42501, 54.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 17.6% 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 42501? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 42501 is 25.9 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 42501? ▼
In ZIP code 42501, approximately 63.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 36.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 42501? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 42501 is 24.3% 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.