PlainZIP

Russell Springs, KY · standard

ZIP Code 42642

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

12,573
35/sq mi
$52,633
Median income
$152,600
Median home value
15.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Russell Springs 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
26th pct
home value, US ZIPs
35
people per sq mi
71%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 42642 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 42642 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Russell Springs, Russell County, Kentucky, home to 12,573 residents across 362.3 square miles, a density of 35 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 42642 reports a modest median household income of $52,633 (12% below the Kentucky average), while per-capita income is $27,917. Poverty here runs at 21.1%, with unemployment measured at 7.0%. Housing costs here run $152,600 for a typical home value (4% below the state average), with rent averaging $691 a month; 70.5% of homes are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 15.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.9, and the average commute is 19 minutes. Beyond these figures, 3 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 1 more sharing Russell County, letting you compare 42642 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

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 42642

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Russell Springs, KY

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 42642.

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 42642, Russell Springs, 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

12,573

Population

362.3

Area (sq mi)

35

People / sq mi

Chicago

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 42642?

38.9

Median Age

50.5%

Male

49.5%

Female

2.5%

Foreign-Born

White 91.9%
African American 1.0%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
Two or More Ethnicities 3.9%
Hispanic or Latino 6.1%

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?

$52,633

Median Household Income

-12% vs state

$27,917

Per Capita Income

21.1%

Poverty Rate

7.0%

Unemployment Rate

19.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 42642 ranks nationally

Russell Springs, KY household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$52,633 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 51.1%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 15.5%

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

What does housing look like?

6,700

Total Housing Units

5,535

Occupied Units

1,165

Vacant Units

2.42

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 70.5%
Renter 29.5%

$152,600

Median Home Value

-4% vs state

$691

Median Rent

1990

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

+13.0%

YoY Change (2024)

257

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+157%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 42642 have increased 13.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +157% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 -3.7% 155
2021 +16.6% 181
2022 +13.1% 205
2023 +10.9% 227
2024 +13.0% 257

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 258 business establishments in ZIP 42642, employing approximately 4,362 people with a combined annual payroll of $177,531,000.

258

Businesses

4,362

Employees

$177.5M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 69 26.7%
Accommodation and food services 31 12.0%
Other services (except public administration) 30 11.6%
Health care and social assistance 24 9.3%
Construction 22 8.5%
Manufacturing 16 6.2%
Finance and insurance 15 5.8%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 10 3.9%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 9 3.5%
Wholesale trade 7 2.7%
Transportation and warehousing 7 2.7%
Information 5 1.9%
Real estate and rental and leasing 5 1.9%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 3 1.2%

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 42642 vs 42528 →

ZIP 42642 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 42642 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 42642 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 42642 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
42528 Dunnville, KY 1,524 9.0 mi
42629 Jamestown, KY 4,953 10.0 mi
42565 Windsor, KY 735 10.5 mi

More ZIP Codes in Russell County

42629 standard
Jamestown, KY
Pop: 4,953

Related Areas

Russell County Russell Springs, KY Kentucky

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 42642 in? ▼
ZIP code 42642 (Russell Springs) is located in Russell County, Kentucky. Russell County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/russell-ky.
What is the population of ZIP code 42642? ▼
ZIP code 42642 in Russell Springs, KY has a population of 12,573 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 42642? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 42642 is $52,633, which is 31% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 42642? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 42642 is $152,600, which is 45% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 42642? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 42642 is White at 91.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 42642? ▼
ZIP code 42642 has 258 business establishments employing approximately 4,362 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 42642? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 42642 are: Retail trade (69), Accommodation and food services (31), Other services (except public administration) (30). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 42642? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 42642 increased by 13.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 157%. 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 42642? ▼
In ZIP code 42642, 51.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 15.5% 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 42642? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 42642 is 19.4 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 42642? ▼
In ZIP code 42642, approximately 70.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 29.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 42642? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 42642 is 21.1% 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.