42085

Zip code 42085: Water Valley, Kentucky

Q: What city is zip code 42085?

42085 is assigned to Water Valley, Kentucky. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 42085 in?

42085 is mostly in Graves County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 42085?

About 914 people live in 42085, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 42085?

The median household income in 42085 is $57,679.

Q: What zip codes are near 42085?

The closest zip codes to 42085 are 42088, 42041, 38257, 38226, 42079.

Residential delivery areaGraves CountyCentral Time

Population

914

Median household income

$58K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$106K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$746/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

35.4

U.S. 38.9

Land area

29 sq mi

32 people/sq mi

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

About 42085

42085 is a rural zip code in Water Valley, Kentucky (Graves County), covering 29 sq mi of land. About 914 people live here, or 32 per square mile. The median resident is 35.4 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $57,679 a year, 29% below the national median of $80,734. 27.9% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $106,000, or 1.8 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 70% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $746 a month.

4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 25.9 minutes each way, and 0% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in transportation and moving goods; food service; and sales.

How 42085 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Rent-burdened renters73.1%
98th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · KY 45.4%89th of 634 in KY
Poverty rate27.9%
95th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · KY 16.1%165th of 722 in KY
Veterans8%
77th
U.S. 6.2% · KY 6.5%162nd of 724 in KY
Uninsured rate10.6%
74th
U.S. 8.4% · KY 6%97th of 723 in KY
Housing vacancy9%
66th
U.S. 10.1% · KY 10.3%460th of 719 in KY
Homeownership rate70%
53rd
U.S. 65.2% · KY 68.3%526th of 719 in KY
Average commute25.9 min
49th
U.S. 26.4 min · KY 24 min330th of 624 in KY
Median earnings per worker$42,216
30th
U.S. $49,666 · KY $43,552299th of 700 in KY
Residents 65 and older13.2%
25th
U.S. 17.2% · KY 17.3%589th of 724 in KY
Median age35.4
23rd
U.S. 38.9 · KY 39.1591st of 724 in KY
Foreign-born residents3.8%
23rd
U.S. 14.1% · KY 4.7%119th of 724 in KY
Median household income$57,679
17th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · KY $63,726313th of 641 in KY
Diversity index22.7
15th
U.S. 61.4 · KY 32.5184th of 724 in KY
Residents under 1817.1%
15th
U.S. 22% · KY 22.6%557th of 724 in KY
Income inequality (Gini)0.371
6th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · KY 0.477558th of 715 in KY
Population density32/sq mi
4th
U.S. 95/sq mi · KY 115/sq mi545th of 724 in KY
Median gross rent$746
4th
U.S. $1,413 · KY $967294th of 467 in KY
Self-employed workers5%
4th
U.S. 10% · KY 8.6%500th of 719 in KY
Per capita income$20,036
3rd
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · KY $35,821613th of 722 in KY
Median home value$106,000
3rd
U.S. $332,700 · KY $205,600450th of 642 in KY
Unemployment rate1.5%
3rd
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · KY 4.9%513th of 719 in KY
Population914
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · KY 4,534,824469th of 724 in KY
Bachelor's degree or higher3.5%
1st
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · KY 27.6%651st of 723 in KY
Work from home0%
1st
U.S. 15.1% · KY 10.2%600th of 719 in KY
Broadband access56.8%
1st
WeaknessU.S. 91% · KY 88.6%701st of 719 in KY
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · KY 2.2%455th of 719 in KY
Healthcare workers2.1%
1st
U.S. 9.7% · KY 10.5%608th of 719 in KY
Government workers2.7%
1st
U.S. 14.5% · KY 14.6%651st of 719 in KY

Measure	42085	Graves	KY	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in KY
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	73.1%	46.4%	45.4%	51.1%	98th	89th of 634
Poverty rateWeakness	27.9%	19.9%	16.1%	12.5%	95th	165th of 722
Veterans	8%	6.1%	6.5%	6.2%	77th	162nd of 724
Uninsured rate	10.6%	7.6%	6%	8.4%	74th	97th of 723
Housing vacancy	9%	13.9%	10.3%	10.1%	66th	460th of 719
Homeownership rate	70%	76.1%	68.3%	65.2%	53rd	526th of 719
Average commute	25.9 min	20.7 min	24 min	26.4 min	49th	330th of 624
Median earnings per worker	$42,216	$36,721	$43,552	$49,666	30th	299th of 700
Residents 65 and older	13.2%	18.4%	17.3%	17.2%	25th	589th of 724
Median age	35.4	40.4	39.1	38.9	23rd	591st of 724
Foreign-born residents	3.8%	2.8%	4.7%	14.1%	23rd	119th of 724
Median household incomeWeakness	$57,679	$50,772	$63,726	$80,734	17th	313th of 641
Diversity index	22.7	28.8	32.5	61.4	15th	184th of 724
Residents under 18	17.1%	24.2%	22.6%	22%	15th	557th of 724
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.371	0.495	0.477	0.483	6th	558th of 715
Population density	32/sq mi	66/sq mi	115/sq mi	95/sq mi	4th	545th of 724
Median gross rent	$746	$775	$967	$1,413	4th	294th of 467
Self-employed workers	5%	10.8%	8.6%	10%	4th	500th of 719
Per capita incomeWeakness	$20,036	$30,535	$35,821	$44,673	3rd	613th of 722
Median home value	$106,000	$147,800	$205,600	$332,700	3rd	450th of 642
Unemployment rateStrength	1.5%	3.4%	4.9%	5.2%	3rd	513th of 719
Population	914	36,630	4,534,824	334,922,499	1st	469th of 724
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	3.5%	18.4%	27.6%	35.7%	1st	651st of 723
Work from home	0%	7.4%	10.2%	15.1%	1st	600th of 719
Broadband accessWeakness	56.8%	82.4%	88.6%	91%	1st	701st of 719
Tech workers	0%	1%	2.2%	3.8%	1st	455th of 719
Healthcare workers	2.1%	9.1%	10.5%	9.7%	1st	608th of 719
Government workers	2.7%	14.3%	14.6%	14.5%	1st	651st of 719

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

15%

5–17

18%

18–24

15%

25–34

35–44

16%

45–54

14%

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

35.4

Under 18

17.1%

65 and over

13.2%

Race and ethnicity

White88%
Black0%
Hispanic7%
Asian0.7%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial5%

Diversity index

22.7

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

3.8%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

44.2%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

95%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 303
Average household size: 3
Family households: 75.6%
Married couples: 46.9%
Living alone: 10.9%
Veterans (of adults): 8%
Male / female: 41% / 59%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

35%

$25–50k

$50–75k

26%

$75–100k

24%

$100–150k

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

42085

$57,679

Graves Co.

$50,772

Kentucky

$63,726

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$20,036

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

27.9%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.371

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

42085

$106,000

Graves Co.

$147,800

Kentucky

$205,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

42085

$746

Graves Co.

$775

Kentucky

$967

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

74%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

26%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 333
Owner-occupied: 70%
Vacant: 9%
Median year built: 1974
Median rooms: 6.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 73.1%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 61.2%
Home value to income: 1.8× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

97%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

35%

20–29

27%

30–44

29%

45–59

60+

Average commute

25.9 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

1.5%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

44.6%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Transportation and moving

32%

Food service

16%

Sales

14%

Production

12%

Office and admin

Construction and repair

Engineering and science

Cleaning and personal care

Legal and social services

Farming, fishing and forestry

Healthcare

Management

Business and finance

Computer and math

Education

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Industries

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

28%

Manufacturing

19%

Restaurants and hotels

16%

Retail

15%

Construction

Other services

Admin, support and management

Public administration

Agriculture and mining

Wholesale

Professional and technical services

Health care and social assistance

Education

Finance, insurance and real estate

Information

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$42,216

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

U.S. 10%

Government workers

2.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

4.1%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	42085	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$52,222	$74,888
Service	—	$26,804
Sales and office	under $2,500	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	—	$49,199
Production and transportation	$58,659	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

15%

High school

57%

Some college

20%

Associate's

Bachelor's

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 84.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 3.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.5%
Households with broadband: 56.8%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 35%
No internet access: 35.3%
Without health insurance: 10.6%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Water Valley
State: Kentucky
County: Graves County
Center point: 36.5696° N, 88.8010° W
Land area: 29 sq mi
Water area: 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

42085 spans 2 counties

Graves County57% of land
Hickman County43% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Water Valley (unincorporated)2% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 42085

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
42088	Wingo, KY	4.1 mi	2,497	$52,745	$134,500
42041	Fulton, KY	4.4 mi	4,406	$36,045	$105,900
38257	South Fulton, TN	8.7 mi	4,437	$58,849	$103,100
38226	Dukedom, TN	10 mi	226	—	$155,100
42079	Sedalia, KY	13 mi	1,315	$59,375	$119,100
42063	Lynnville, KY · PO box	13 mi	—	—	—
42031	Clinton, KY	13 mi	3,411	$57,097	$118,700
38237	Martin, TN	14 mi	15,627	$51,670	$200,900
42066	Mayfield, KY	14 mi	23,917	$48,664	$145,600
38241	Palmersville, TN	15 mi	835	$64,125	$105,700
42039	Fancy Farm, KY	15 mi	1,694	$70,726	$143,200
38238	Martin, TN · PO box	16 mi	—	—	—

Questions about 42085

What city is zip code 42085?

42085 is assigned to Water Valley, Kentucky. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 42085 in?

42085 is mostly in Graves County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 42085?

About 914 people live in 42085, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 42085 in?

42085 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 42085?

The median household income in 42085 is $57,679.

What zip codes are near 42085?

The closest zip codes to 42085 are 42088, 42041, 38257, 38226, 42079.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 42085, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.