PlainZIP

Horse Cave, KY · standard

ZIP Code 42749

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

5,245
22/sq mi
$45,500
Median income
$142,200
Median home value
11.9%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Horse Cave pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

9th pct
household income, US ZIPs
23th pct
home value, US ZIPs
22
people per sq mi
66%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 42749 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 42749 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Horse Cave, Hart County, Kentucky, home to 5,245 residents across 236.3 square miles, a density of 22 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 42749 reports a modest median household income of $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%. The typical home here is valued at $142,200 (11% below the state average); renters pay a median of $726 monthly, and 65.6% of units are owner-occupied.

Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 11.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 48.7, and the average commute is 19 minutes. Beyond these figures, 3 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Hart County, letting you compare 42749 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 42749

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Horse Cave, KY

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 42749.

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 42749, Horse Cave, 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

5,245

Population

236.3

Area (sq mi)

22

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 42749?

48.7

Median Age

45.1%

Male

54.9%

Female

1.6%

Foreign-Born

White 79.9%
African American 12.0%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.7%
Hispanic or Latino 2.4%

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

How ZIP 42749 ranks nationally

Horse Cave, KY household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$45,500 9th percentile higher than 9% 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 63.2%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 11.9%

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

Owner 65.6%
Renter 34.4%

$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 →

ZIP 42749 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 42749 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 42749 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 42749 ranks #3 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
42127 Cave City, KY 6,199 5.4 mi
42765 Munfordville, KY 5,840 8.9 mi
42746 Hardyville, KY 1,892 8.2 mi

More ZIP Codes in Hart County

42765 standard
Munfordville, KY
Pop: 5,840
42757 standard
Magnolia, KY
Pop: 2,974
42746 standard
Hardyville, KY
Pop: 1,892
42713 standard
Bonnieville, KY
Pop: 1,641
42729 standard
Cub Run, KY
Pop: 1,617
42722 standard
Canmer, KY
Pop: 714

Related Areas

Hart County Horse Cave, KY Kentucky

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 42749 in? ▼
ZIP code 42749 (Horse Cave) is located in Hart County, Kentucky. Hart County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/hart-ky.
What is the population of ZIP code 42749? ▼
ZIP code 42749 in Horse Cave, KY has a population of 5,245 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 42749? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 42749 is $45,500, which is 40% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 42749? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 42749 is $142,200, which is 49% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 42749? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 42749 is White at 79.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 42749? ▼
ZIP code 42749 has 91 business establishments employing approximately 2,952 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 42749? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 42749 are: Retail trade (17), Other services (except public administration) (11), Accommodation and food services (9). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 42749? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 42749 increased by 15.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 118%. 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 42749? ▼
In ZIP code 42749, 63.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 11.9% 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 42749? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 42749 is 18.8 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 42749? ▼
In ZIP code 42749, approximately 65.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 34.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 42749? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 42749 is 21.2% 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.