ZIP Code 42749
standardSource:
Horse Cave · Hart County · Kentucky
- Population
- 5,245
- Median income
- $45,500
- Median home value
- $142,200
- Bachelor's or higher
- 11.9%
- Land area
- 236.3 sq mi
22/sq mi
▼ 40% vs US
higher than 9% of US ZIPs
▼ 49% vs US
higher than 23% of US ZIPs
Median age 48.7
Chicago
ZIP code 42749 in Horse Cave, Kentucky has a population of 5,245. The median household income is $45,500, which is 40% below the national average. Median home value is $142,200, 49% below the US average. 11.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 42749 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 236.3 square miles in Horse Cave, Hart County, Kentucky. The area is home to 5,245 residents, producing a population density of 22 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 42749 against Kentucky and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 42749 sits at $45,500 (24% below the Kentucky average), while per-capita income is $27,153. The poverty rate stands at 21.2% and the unemployment rate at 4.7%. On housing, the median home value is $142,200 (11% below the state average) with median rent at $726 per month, and 65.6% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 42749 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 11.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 48.7, and the average commute is 19 minutes. We also surface 3 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Hart County, so you can benchmark 42749 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 42749
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 42749.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
17 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
11 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
9 establishments
- Manufacturing
Manufacturing
8 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
8 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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 42749, Horse Cave, KY · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
5,245
Population
236.3
Area (sq mi)
22
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 42749?
48.7
Median Age
45.1%
Male
54.9%
Female
1.6%
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?
$45,500
Median Household Income
-24% vs state
$27,153
Per Capita Income
21.2%
Poverty Rate
4.7%
Unemployment Rate
18.8 min
Mean Commute Time
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?
2,272
Total Housing Units
1,894
Occupied Units
378
Vacant Units
2.28
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$142,200
Median Home Value
-11% vs state
$726
Median Rent
1976
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
+15.5%
YoY Change (2024)
218
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+118%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 42749 have increased 15.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +118% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | -1.3% | 129 |
| 2020 | +7.8% | 139 |
| 2021 | +10.6% | 154 |
| 2022 | +15.5% | 178 |
| 2024 | — | 218 |
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 91 business establishments in ZIP 42749, employing approximately 2,952 people with a combined annual payroll of $155,513,000.
91
Businesses
2,952
Employees
$155.5M
Annual Payroll
12
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 17 | 18.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 11 | 12.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 9 | 9.9% |
| Manufacturing | 8 | 8.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 8 | 8.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 7 | 7.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 7 | 7.7% |
| Construction | 6 | 6.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 4 | 4.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 4 | 4.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 3.3% |
| Information | 3 | 3.3% |
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 42749 vs 42127 →
More ZIP Codes in Hart County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 42749 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 42749? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 42749? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 42749? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 42749? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 42749? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 42749? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 42749? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 42749? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 42749? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 42749? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 42749? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Horse Cave, KY
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.