Residential delivery area · Kentucky
ZIP Code 42749: Horse Cave, KY
ZIP code 42749 uses the postal name Horse Cave, Kentucky and lies mostly in Hart County (80% of its land), reaching into Metcalfe County and Barren County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 4,400 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $45,500 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 3% of its land lies in Horse Cave; 97% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Horse Cave · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Hart County (80%); Metcalfe County (13%); Barren County (6%)
- Census places
- Horse Cave
- House districts
- KY-2 (87%), KY-1 (13%) 119th Congress, by share of land
- State
- Kentucky
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 91.8 sq mi · 48 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 42749?
42749 centers on 37.184°, -85.877° and covers 91.8 square miles of land plus 1.0 of water. It borders 8 ZIP codes: 42127, 42746, 42765, 42214, 42154, 42259, 42141, 42129.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 42749, 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 42749 compare with the rest of Hart County?
| Measure | 42749 | In Hart County | In KY |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 4,423 | 3rd of 10 | 220th of 780 |
| Median household income | $46k | 3rd of 4 | 271st of 310 |
| Median home value | $142k | not ranked | not ranked |
42749's median home value is not ranked: its 90% margin of error (±$35,970) is more than a quarter of the figure ($142,200). Rankings use ZIP codes of 1,000 or more people living in households, with margins at most 25% of the figure.
Its median household income is higher than in 10% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 41% 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 42749?
The 2020 Census counted 5,219 people in 42749; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 4,423. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell 0.5% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 4,423±528 (90% margin)
- 2020 Census count
- 5,219−0.5% since 2010 (5,245)
- Households
- 1,894
- Median age
- 48.7
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 42749?
Of the 4,423 people the ACS estimates in 42749, 15.5% are under 18 and 20.9% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (79.0%), then Black (not Hispanic) (12.0%).
- Under 1815.5%
- 18 to 6463.6%
- 65 and older20.9%
- White, not Hispanic79.0%
- Black, not Hispanic12.0%
- Other or two or more6.0%
- Hispanic or Latino2.4%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.6%
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 42749 earn?
Median household income is $45,500 (ACS 2020-2024), the 3rd highest of the 4 ranked ZIP codes in Hart County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($45,157 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $45,500±$10,244
- Income per person
- $27,153
- Below the poverty line
- 21.2%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 4.7%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 11.9%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $51,0252,110 returns; wages 72% 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 42749?
FHFA's house price index for 42749, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 123% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 73% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +8.8% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $142,200
- Median gross rent
- $726
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 65.6%
- Housing units
- 2,272
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 42749?
91 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 2 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade17
- Other services (except public administration)11
- Accommodation and food services9
- Manufacturing8
- Health care and social assistance8
- Finance and insurance7
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 42749?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42127 | Cave City | 7,030 | $43k | 5.0 mi |
| 42746 | Hardyville | 2,101 | $50k | 8.2 mi |
| 42765 | Munfordville | 7,149 | $60k | 9.1 mi |
| 42214 | Center | 749 | $47k | 10.5 mi |
| 42154 | Knob Lick | 629 | $58k | 12.9 mi |
| 42259 | Mammoth Cave | 1,090 | $34k | 16.1 mi |
| 42141 | Glasgow | 31,506 | $53k | 16.9 mi |
| 42129 | Edmonton | 7,302 | $54k | 21.0 mi |
| 42722 | Canmer | 596 | $60k | 10.9 mi (near) |
| 42160 | Park City | 2,822 | $49k | 12.8 mi (near) |
| 42713 | Bonnieville | 1,781 | $60k | 13.2 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.