Zip code 38642: Lamar, Mississippi

Q: What city is zip code 38642?

38642 is assigned to Lamar, Mississippi. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 38642 in?

38642 is mostly in Benton County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 38642?

About 2,126 people live in 38642, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 38642?

The median household income in 38642 is $59,388.

Q: What zip codes are near 38642?

The closest zip codes to 38642 are 38647, 38057, 38649, 38046, 38634.

Residential delivery areaBenton CountyCentral Time

Population

2,126

Median household income

$59K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$143K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$684/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

35.1

U.S. 38.9

Land area

75 sq mi

28 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 38642

38642 is a rural zip code in Lamar, Mississippi (Benton County), covering 75 sq mi of land. About 2,126 people live here, or 28 per square mile. The median resident is 35.1 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $59,388 a year, 26% below the national median of $80,734. 12.6% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $143,200, or 2.4 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 78% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $684 a month.

14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 30.9 minutes each way, and 1% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in construction and repair; food service; and transportation and moving goods.

How 38642 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Government workers27.3%
97th
U.S. 14.5% · MS 18.5%53rd of 405 in MS
Uninsured rate20.4%
95th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · MS 11%27th of 403 in MS
Average commute30.9 min
78th
U.S. 26.4 min · MS 25.6 min115th of 393 in MS
Homeownership rate78.4%
75th
U.S. 65.2% · MS 70%183rd of 397 in MS
Residents 65 and older20%
74th
U.S. 17.2% · MS 17.2%142nd of 405 in MS
Diversity index59.5
71st
U.S. 61.4 · MS 56.120th of 405 in MS
Self-employed workers10.2%
61st
U.S. 10% · MS 9.4%147th of 405 in MS
Poverty rate12.6%
59th
U.S. 12.5% · MS 18.9%313th of 398 in MS
Housing vacancy7.8%
59th
U.S. 10.1% · MS 14.6%353rd of 397 in MS
Income inequality (Gini)0.403
23rd
U.S. 0.483 · MS 0.482298th of 393 in MS
Median age35.1
22nd
U.S. 38.9 · MS 38.6316th of 405 in MS
Median household income$59,388
19th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · MS $56,447119th of 376 in MS
Healthcare workers7.2%
18th
U.S. 9.7% · MS 11.1%281st of 405 in MS
Unemployment rate2.8%
14th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · MS 5.8%293rd of 405 in MS
Veterans2.9%
14th
U.S. 6.2% · MS 6.8%337th of 405 in MS
Foreign-born residents1.9%
11th
U.S. 14.1% · MS 2.4%118th of 405 in MS
Residents under 1815.5%
9th
U.S. 22% · MS 23.3%351st of 405 in MS
Median home value$143,200
8th
U.S. $332,700 · MS $169,800141st of 372 in MS
Bachelor's degree or higher14.2%
8th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · MS 25.1%261st of 403 in MS
Per capita income$23,830
6th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · MS $31,549290th of 405 in MS
Population density28/sq mi
4th
U.S. 95/sq mi · MS 63/sq mi237th of 405 in MS
Broadband access79.9%
4th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · MS 84.1%195th of 397 in MS
Median earnings per worker$31,227
4th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · MS $40,605313th of 403 in MS
Population2,126
3rd
U.S. 334,922,499 · MS 2,946,779245th of 405 in MS
Median gross rent$684
2nd
U.S. $1,413 · MS $954235th of 319 in MS
Rent-burdened renters17.4%
2nd
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · MS 51.3%328th of 377 in MS
Work from home1.3%
1st
U.S. 15.1% · MS 5.9%296th of 405 in MS
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · MS 1.4%329th of 405 in MS

Measure	38642	Benton	MS	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MS
Government workers	27.3%	18.5%	18.5%	14.5%	97th	53rd of 405
Uninsured rateWeakness	20.4%	9.1%	11%	8.4%	95th	27th of 403
Average commute	30.9 min	34.1 min	25.6 min	26.4 min	78th	115th of 393
Homeownership rate	78.4%	86%	70%	65.2%	75th	183rd of 397
Residents 65 and older	20%	21%	17.2%	17.2%	74th	142nd of 405
Diversity index	59.5	51.5	56.1	61.4	71st	20th of 405
Self-employed workers	10.2%	2.4%	9.4%	10%	61st	147th of 405
Poverty rate	12.6%	21.5%	18.9%	12.5%	59th	313th of 398
Housing vacancy	7.8%	24.9%	14.6%	10.1%	59th	353rd of 397
Income inequality (Gini)	0.403	0.444	0.482	0.483	23rd	298th of 393
Median age	35.1	44.5	38.6	38.9	22nd	316th of 405
Median household incomeWeakness	$59,388	$46,016	$56,447	$80,734	19th	119th of 376
Healthcare workers	7.2%	10%	11.1%	9.7%	18th	281st of 405
Unemployment rateStrength	2.8%	3.1%	5.8%	5.2%	14th	293rd of 405
Veterans	2.9%	4.8%	6.8%	6.2%	14th	337th of 405
Foreign-born residents	1.9%	5.5%	2.4%	14.1%	11th	118th of 405
Residents under 18	15.5%	21.1%	23.3%	22%	9th	351st of 405
Median home value	$143,200	$105,100	$169,800	$332,700	8th	141st of 372
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	14.2%	12.8%	25.1%	35.7%	8th	261st of 403
Per capita incomeWeakness	$23,830	$25,190	$31,549	$44,673	6th	290th of 405
Population density	28/sq mi	19/sq mi	63/sq mi	95/sq mi	4th	237th of 405
Broadband accessWeakness	79.9%	69.5%	84.1%	91%	4th	195th of 397
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$31,227	$32,420	$40,605	$49,666	4th	313th of 403
Population	2,126	7,589	2,946,779	334,922,499	3rd	245th of 405
Median gross rent	$684	$731	$954	$1,413	2nd	235th of 319
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	17.4%	43.1%	51.3%	51.1%	2nd	328th of 377
Work from home	1.3%	1.9%	5.9%	15.1%	1st	296th of 405
Tech workers	0%	0.1%	1.4%	3.8%	1st	329th of 405

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

12%

5–17

12%

18–24

23%

25–34

35–44

45–54

19%

55–64

12%

65–74

75+

Median age

35.1

Under 18

15.5%

65 and over

20%

Race and ethnicity

White42%
Black47%
Hispanic3%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial8%

Diversity index

59.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

1.9%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

62%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

99%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 700
Average household size: 3
Family households: 79.9%
Married couples: 36.3%
Living alone: 13.3%
Veterans (of adults): 2.9%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

18%

$25–50k

22%

$50–75k

33%

$75–100k

$100–150k

11%

$150–200k

10%

$200k+

Median household income

38642

$59,388

Benton Co.

$46,016

Mississippi

$56,447

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$23,830

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

12.6%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

10.3%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.403

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

38642

$143,200

Benton Co.

$105,100

Mississippi

$169,800

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

38642

$684

Benton Co.

$731

Mississippi

$954

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

80%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

20%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 759
Owner-occupied: 78.4%
Vacant: 7.8%
Median year built: 1983
Median rooms: 6.4
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 17.4%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 17.4%
Home value to income: 2.4× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

80%

Carpooled

12%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

11%

10–19

16%

20–29

17%

30–44

22%

45–59

22%

60+

12%

Average commute

30.9 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

2.8%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

51.3%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Construction and repair

18%

Food service

16%

Transportation and moving

11%

Office and admin

11%

Legal and social services

10%

Education

Healthcare

Management

Sales

Business and finance

Production

Cleaning and personal care

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Restaurants and hotels

16%

Health care and social assistance

16%

Education

15%

Wholesale

14%

Construction

12%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

10%

Public administration

Manufacturing

Retail

Other services

Professional and technical services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Admin, support and management

Information

Arts and recreation

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$31,227

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

10.2%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

27.3%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

9.9%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	38642	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$40,508	$74,888
Service	$12,712	$26,804
Sales and office	$19,948	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$79,830	$49,199
Production and transportation	$46,033	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

32%

High school

26%

Some college

21%

Associate's

Bachelor's

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 68%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 14.2%
Graduate or professional degree: 7.2%
Households with broadband: 79.9%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 47.1%
No internet access: 12.6%
Without health insurance: 20.4%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Lamar
State: Mississippi
County: Benton County
Center point: 34.9113° N, 89.3414° W
Land area: 75 sq mi
Water area: 0.2 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

38642 spans 2 counties

Benton County55% of land
Marshall County45% of land

Zip codes near 38642

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
38647	Michigan City, MS	7.6 mi	994	$62,820	$94,300
38057	Moscow, TN	9.8 mi	3,563	$90,340	$248,900
38649	Mount Pleasant, MS · PO box	11 mi	—	—	—
38046	La Grange, TN	11 mi	11	—	$362,500
38634	Holly Springs, MS · PO box	12 mi	—	—	—
38603	Ashland, MS	12 mi	2,530	$43,676	$143,400
38661	Red Banks, MS	12 mi	2,126	$69,276	$227,300
38635	Holly Springs, MS	13 mi	15,503	$55,625	$148,900
38039	Grand Junction, TN	13 mi	1,305	$39,020	$111,900
38066	Rossville, TN	16 mi	3,446	$107,660	$377,900
38076	Williston, TN	16 mi	954	$77,917	$287,800
38679	Victoria, MS · PO box	17 mi	—	—	—

Zip codes like 38642 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 38642

What city is zip code 38642?

38642 is assigned to Lamar, Mississippi. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 38642 in?

38642 is mostly in Benton County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 38642?

About 2,126 people live in 38642, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 38642 in?

38642 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 38642?

The median household income in 38642 is $59,388.

What zip codes are near 38642?

The closest zip codes to 38642 are 38647, 38057, 38649, 38046, 38634.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 38642, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.