PlainZIP

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
$52,737
Median income
$154,500
Median home value
9.9%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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.

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 Kentucky average), while per-capita income is $29,557. 11.2% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 7.5%. The typical home here is valued at $154,500 (3% below the state average); renters pay a median of $942 monthly, and 76.7% of units 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. To put 42553 in local context, 5 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 42553

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Science Hill, KY

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 42553.

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 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

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 42553?

37.7

Median Age

49.7%

Male

50.3%

Female

0.8%

Foreign-Born

White 97.0%
African American 0.2%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 2.4%
Hispanic or Latino 1.1%

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

$29,557

Per Capita Income

11.2%

Poverty Rate

7.5%

Unemployment Rate

21.8 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 42553 ranks nationally

Science Hill, KY household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$52,737 18th percentile higher than 18% 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 53.5%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 9.9%

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

What does housing look like?

2,384

Total Housing Units

2,154

Occupied Units

230

Vacant Units

2.62

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 76.7%
Renter 23.3%

$154,500

Median Home Value

-3% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 42553 ranks #3 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 42553 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 42553 ranks #3 of 6 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
42516 Bethelridge, KY 463 5.9 mi
42567 Eubank, KY 6,007 8.1 mi
42566 Yosemite, KY 660 9.1 mi
42533 Ferguson, KY 802 9.2 mi
42544 Nancy, KY 5,843 11.5 mi

More ZIP Codes in Pulaski County

42503 standard
Somerset, KY
Pop: 22,894
42501 standard
Somerset, KY
Pop: 17,592
42567 standard
Eubank, KY
Pop: 6,007
42544 standard
Nancy, KY
Pop: 5,843
42519 standard
Burnside, KY
Pop: 3,191
42518 standard
Bronston, KY
Pop: 2,914

Related Areas

Pulaski County Science Hill, KY Kentucky

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.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.