Science Hill, KY · standard
ZIP Code 42553
Pulaski County, Kentucky - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 5,284
- 33/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $52,737
- Median income Below-median income area
- $154,500
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 9.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Science Hill pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 18th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 27th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 33
- people per sq mi
- 77%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 42553 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 42553 (Science Hill, KY) rose +5.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 229.1 in 2023 to 240.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 42553 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Science Hill, Pulaski County, Kentucky, home to 5,284 residents across 161.1 square miles, a density of 33 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 42553 reports a modest median household income of $52,737 (12% below the average Kentucky ZIP), while per-capita income is $29,557. The poverty rate is 11.2%, with unemployment at 7.5%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $154,500 (3% below the average Kentucky ZIP) and median rent is $942; 76.7% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 9.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.7, and the average commute is 22 minutes. The page also surfaces 5 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Pulaski County, so 42553 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 42553
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Science Hill, KY
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 42553.
- Construction
Construction
10 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
8 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
8 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
7 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 3
Accommodation and food services
3 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 42553, Science Hill, 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
5,284
Population
161.1
Area (sq mi)
33
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 42553?
37.7
Median Age
49.7%
Male
50.3%
Female
0.8%
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?
$52,737
Median Household Income
-12% vs state ZIP avg
$29,557
Per Capita Income
11.2%
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Unemployment Rate
21.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 42553 ranks among Kentucky ZIPs
Science Hill, 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)
$52,737 39th percentile higher than 39% 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
2,384housing units
2,384
Total Housing Units
2,154
Occupied Units
230
Vacant Units
2.62
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$154,500
Median Home Value
-3% vs state ZIP avg
$942
Median Rent
1984
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
+5.0%
YoY Change (2024)
241
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+141%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 42553 have increased 5.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +141% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.6% | 146 |
| 2021 | +17.8% | 172 |
| 2022 | +10.5% | 190 |
| 2023 | +20.8% | 229 |
| 2024 | +5.0% | 241 |
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 49 business establishments in ZIP 42553, employing approximately 349 people with a combined annual payroll of $17,089,000.
49
Businesses
349
Employees
$17.1M
Annual Payroll
5
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 10 | 20.4% |
| Retail trade | 8 | 16.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 8 | 16.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 7 | 14.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 3 | 6.1% |
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 42553 vs 42516 →
ZIP 42553 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 42567
Eubank (42567)
6,007 residents
- 42544
Nancy (42544)
5,843 residents
- 42553
Science Hill (42553)
5,284 residents
- 42533 802
Ferguson (42533)
802 residents
- 42566 660
Yosemite (42566)
660 residents
- 42516 463
Bethelridge (42516)
463 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 42553 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 42553 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 42544
Nancy (42544)
$60,895 median income
- 42566
Yosemite (42566)
$60,156 median income
- 42553
Science Hill (42553)
$52,737 median income
- 42567
Eubank (42567)
$46,526 median income
- 42516
Bethelridge (42516)
$43,375 median income
- 42533
Ferguson (42533)
$41,000 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 42553 ranks #3 of 6 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 42553, 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 (5,284 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Pulaski County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 42553 in?
ZIP code 42553 (Science Hill) 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 42553?
ZIP code 42553 in Science Hill, KY has a population of 5,284 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 42553?
The median household income in ZIP 42553 is $52,737, which is 31% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 42553?
The median home value in ZIP 42553 is $154,500, which is 44% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 42553?
The largest racial group in ZIP 42553 is White at 97.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 1.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 42553?
ZIP code 42553 has 49 business establishments employing approximately 349 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 42553?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 42553 are: Construction (10), Retail trade (8), Health care and social assistance (8). There are 5 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 42553?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 42553 increased by 5.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 141%. 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 42553?
In ZIP code 42553, 53.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 9.9% 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 42553?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 42553 is 21.8 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 42553?
In ZIP code 42553, approximately 76.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 23.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 42553?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 42553 is 11.2% 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 42553's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 42553 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Science Hill, 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.