PlainZIP

Columbia, KY · standard

ZIP Code 42728

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

15,925
19/sq mi
$51,623
Median income
$151,300
Median home value
22.8%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Columbia pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

16th pct
household income, US ZIPs
26th pct
home value, US ZIPs
19
people per sq mi
76%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 42728 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 42728 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Columbia, Adair County, Kentucky, home to 15,925 residents across 829.4 square miles, a density of 19 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 42728 reports a modest median household income of $51,623 (13% below the Kentucky average), while per-capita income is $29,071. The poverty rate stands at 17.1% and the unemployment rate at 6.8%. The typical home here is valued at $151,300 (5% below the state average); renters pay a median of $771 monthly, and 76.0% of units are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 22.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.2, and the average commute is 22 minutes. Beyond these figures, 2 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 4 more sharing Adair County, letting you compare 42728 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 42728

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Columbia, KY

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 42728.

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 42728, Columbia, 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

15,925

Population

829.4

Area (sq mi)

19

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 42728?

39.2

Median Age

49.7%

Male

50.3%

Female

4.1%

Foreign-Born

White 90.6%
African American 2.3%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.3%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.2%
Hispanic or Latino 3.6%

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?

$51,623

Median Household Income

-13% vs state

$29,071

Per Capita Income

17.1%

Poverty Rate

6.8%

Unemployment Rate

22.2 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 42728 ranks nationally

Columbia, KY household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$51,623 16th percentile higher than 16% 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 58.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 22.8%

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

What does housing look like?

7,586

Total Housing Units

6,223

Occupied Units

1,363

Vacant Units

2.44

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 76.0%
Renter 24.0%

$151,300

Median Home Value

-5% vs state

$771

Median Rent

1982

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

+16.6%

YoY Change (2024)

276

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+176%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 42728 have increased 16.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +176% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +2.3% 161
2021 +14.2% 184
2022 +16.9% 216
2023 +9.7% 236
2024 +16.6% 276

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 315 business establishments in ZIP 42728, employing approximately 3,940 people with a combined annual payroll of $150,837,000.

315

Businesses

3,940

Employees

$150.8M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 59 18.7%
Health care and social assistance 46 14.6%
Construction 33 10.5%
Other services (except public administration) 31 9.8%
Finance and insurance 27 8.6%
Accommodation and food services 27 8.6%
Transportation and warehousing 18 5.7%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 17 5.4%
Manufacturing 16 5.1%
Wholesale trade 12 3.8%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 9 2.9%
Real estate and rental and leasing 8 2.5%
Information 3 0.9%
Management of companies and enterprises 3 0.9%

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 42728 vs 42741 →

ZIP 42728 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 42728 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 42728 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 42728 ranks #3 of 3 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
42741 Glens Fork, KY 480 8.4 mi
42753 Knifley, KY 743 9.6 mi

More ZIP Codes in Adair County

42528 standard
Dunnville, KY
Pop: 1,524
42753 standard
Knifley, KY
Pop: 743
42741 standard
Glens Fork, KY
Pop: 480
42715 standard
Breeding, KY
Pop: 347

Related Areas

Adair County Columbia, KY Kentucky

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 42728 in? ▼
ZIP code 42728 (Columbia) is located in Adair County, Kentucky. Adair County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/adair-ky.
What is the population of ZIP code 42728? ▼
ZIP code 42728 in Columbia, KY has a population of 15,925 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 42728? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 42728 is $51,623, which is 32% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 42728? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 42728 is $151,300, which is 46% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 42728? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 42728 is White at 90.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 42728? ▼
ZIP code 42728 has 315 business establishments employing approximately 3,940 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 42728? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 42728 are: Retail trade (59), Health care and social assistance (46), Construction (33). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 42728? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 42728 increased by 16.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 176%. 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 42728? ▼
In ZIP code 42728, 58.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 22.8% 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 42728? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 42728 is 22.2 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 42728? ▼
In ZIP code 42728, approximately 76.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 24.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 42728? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 42728 is 17.1% 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.