Liberty, KY · standard
ZIP Code 42539
Casey County, Kentucky - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 10,026
- 18/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $40,862
- Median income Below-median income area
- $130,500
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 11.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Liberty pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 6th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 20th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 18
- people per sq mi
- 77%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 42539 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 42539 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Liberty, Casey County, Kentucky, home to 10,026 residents across 547.9 square miles, a density of 18 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 42539 reports a modest median household income of $40,862 (31% below the average Kentucky ZIP), while per-capita income is $23,330. The poverty rate is 21.9%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $130,500 (18% below the average Kentucky ZIP), and median rent is $674; owner occupancy is 76.5%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 11.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.9, and the average commute is 25 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 4 more in Casey County, so 42539 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 42539
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Liberty, KY
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 42539.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
47 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
26 establishments
- Manufacturing
Manufacturing
20 establishments
- Construction 17
Construction
17 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 13
Accommodation and food services
13 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 42539, Liberty, 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
10,026
Population
547.9
Area (sq mi)
18
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 42539?
42.9
Median Age
47.7%
Male
52.3%
Female
2.0%
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?
$40,862
Median Household Income
-31% vs state ZIP avg
$23,330
Per Capita Income
21.9%
Poverty Rate
6.3%
Unemployment Rate
25.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 42539 ranks among Kentucky ZIPs
Liberty, KY household income vs. every Kentucky ZIP code
Median household income among 646 reporting Kentucky ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$40,862 18th percentile higher than 18% of 646 Kentucky ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Kentucky 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
4,458housing units
4,458
Total Housing Units
3,834
Occupied Units
624
Vacant Units
2.31
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$130,500
Median Home Value
-18% vs state ZIP avg
$674
Median Rent
1983
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
-6.3%
YoY Change (2024)
176
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+76%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 42539 have decreased 6.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +76% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +18.4% | 159 |
| 2020 | -12.0% | 140 |
| 2021 | +15.0% | 161 |
| 2022 | -6.3% | 151 |
| 2024 | – | 176 |
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 184 business establishments in ZIP 42539, employing approximately 2,077 people with a combined annual payroll of $75,222,000.
184
Businesses
2,077
Employees
$75.2M
Annual Payroll
10
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 47 | 25.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 26 | 14.1% |
| Manufacturing | 20 | 10.9% |
| Construction | 17 | 9.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 13 | 7.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 13 | 7.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 11 | 6.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 11 | 6.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 10 | 5.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 1.6% |
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 42539 vs 42528 →
ZIP 42539 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 42539
Liberty (42539)
10,026 residents
- 40437
Hustonville (40437)
4,932 residents
- 42528 1,524
Dunnville (42528)
1,524 residents
- 42565 735
Windsor (42565)
735 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 42539 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 42539 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 42565
Windsor (42565)
$70,692 median income
- 40437
Hustonville (40437)
$53,775 median income
- 42528
Dunnville (42528)
$50,227 median income
- 42539
Liberty (42539)
$40,862 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 42539 ranks #4 of 4 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 42539, 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 (10,026 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Casey County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 42539 in?
ZIP code 42539 (Liberty) is located in Casey County, Kentucky. Casey County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/casey-ky.
What is the population of ZIP code 42539?
ZIP code 42539 in Liberty, KY has a population of 10,026 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 42539?
The median household income in ZIP 42539 is $40,862, which is 46% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 42539?
The median home value in ZIP 42539 is $130,500, which is 53% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 42539?
The largest racial group in ZIP 42539 is White at 95.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 42539?
ZIP code 42539 has 184 business establishments employing approximately 2,077 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 42539?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 42539 are: Retail trade (47), Health care and social assistance (26), Manufacturing (20). There are 10 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 42539?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 42539 decreased by 6.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 76%. 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 42539?
In ZIP code 42539, 56.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 11.9% 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 42539?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 42539 is 25.3 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 42539?
In ZIP code 42539, approximately 76.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 23.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 42539?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 42539 is 21.9% 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 42539's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 42539 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Liberty, 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.