Residential delivery area · Kentucky
ZIP Code 42553: Science Hill, KY
ZIP code 42553 uses the postal name Science Hill, Kentucky and lies entirely in Pulaski County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 5,600 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $52,737 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 1% of its land lies in Science Hill; 99% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Science Hill · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Pulaski County
- Census places
- Science Hill
- Micro area
- Somerset, KY
- House district
- KY-5 119th Congress
- State
- Kentucky
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 65.7 sq mi · 86 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 42553?
42553 centers on 37.180°, -84.697° and covers 65.7 square miles of land plus 0.8 of water. It borders 7 ZIP codes: 42516, 42567, 42566, 42503, 42565, 42544, 42539.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 42553, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 42553 compare with the rest of Pulaski County?
| Measure | 42553 | In Pulaski County | In KY |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 5,649 | 4th of 11 | 192nd of 780 |
| Median household income | $53k | 5th of 9 | 231st of 310 |
| Median home value | $155k | 3rd of 7 | 197th of 320 |
Its median household income is higher than in 18% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 51% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 42553?
The 2020 Census counted 5,499 people in 42553; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 5,649. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 4.1% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 5,649±824 (90% margin)
- 2020 Census count
- 5,499+4.1% since 2010 (5,284)
- Households
- 2,154
- Median age
- 37.7
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 42553?
Of the 5,649 people the ACS estimates in 42553, 25.5% are under 18 and 17.7% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (96.9%).
- Under 1825.5%
- 18 to 6456.8%
- 65 and older17.7%
- White, not Hispanic96.9%
- Other or two or more1.5%
- Hispanic or Latino1.1%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.4%
- Black, not Hispanic0.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 42553 earn?
Median household income is $52,737 (ACS 2020-2024), the 5th highest of the 9 ranked ZIP codes in Pulaski County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($49,125 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $52,737±$9,687
- Income per person
- $29,557
- Below the poverty line
- 11.2%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 7.5%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 9.9%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $50,1862,310 returns; wages 78% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 42553?
FHFA's house price index for 42553, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 120% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 83% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +11.7% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $154,500
- Median gross rent
- $942
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 76.7%
- Housing units
- 2,384
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 42553?
49 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 13 more than in 2018; the most are in construction (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Construction10
- Retail trade8
- Health care and social assistance8
- Other services (except public administration)7
- Accommodation and food services3
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 42553?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42516 | Bethelridge | 540 | $43k | 5.6 mi |
| 42567 | Eubank | 5,390 | $47k | 7.8 mi |
| 42566 | Yosemite | 541 | $60k | 8.3 mi |
| 42503 | Somerset | 25,321 | $55k | 9.9 mi |
| 42565 | Windsor | 758 | $71k | 11.8 mi |
| 42544 | Nancy | 5,520 | $61k | 12.3 mi |
| 42539 | Liberty | 9,249 | $41k | 16.6 mi |
| 42533 | Ferguson | 897 | $41k | 9.4 mi (near) |
| 40442 | Kings Mountain | 781 | – | 11.2 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.