Zip code 42259: Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

Q: What city is zip code 42259?

42259 is assigned to Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 42259 in?

42259 is in Edmonson County, Kentucky.

Q: What is the population of 42259?

About 1,090 people live in 42259, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 42259?

The median household income in 42259 is $33,566.

Q: What zip codes are near 42259?

The closest zip codes to 42259 are 42729, 42207, 42285, 42210, 42160.

Residential delivery areaEdmonson CountyCentral Time

Population

1,090

Median household income

$34K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$148K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,048/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

U.S. 38.9

Land area

73 sq mi

15 people/sq mi

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

About 42259

42259 is a rural zip code in Mammoth Cave, Kentucky (Edmonson County), covering 73 sq mi of land. About 1,090 people live here, or 15 per square mile. The median resident is 62 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $33,566 a year, about 42% of the national median of $80,734. 22.8% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $148,100, or 4.4 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 91% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,048 a month.

5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 45.4 minutes each way, and 6% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in construction and repair; healthcare; and cleaning and personal care.

How 42259 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median age62
99th
U.S. 38.9 · KY 39.119th of 724 in KY
Average commute45.4 min
99th
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · KY 24 min28th of 624 in KY
Housing vacancy52.7%
99th
U.S. 10.1% · KY 10.3%8th of 719 in KY
Residents 65 and older40.9%
99th
U.S. 17.2% · KY 17.3%22nd of 724 in KY
Unemployment rate12.7%
98th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · KY 4.9%54th of 719 in KY
Veterans15.3%
98th
U.S. 6.2% · KY 6.5%29th of 724 in KY
Homeownership rate91%
97th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · KY 68.3%110th of 719 in KY
Healthcare workers16.2%
97th
U.S. 9.7% · KY 10.5%125th of 719 in KY
Poverty rate22.8%
89th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · KY 16.1%237th of 722 in KY
Self-employed workers12.4%
79th
U.S. 10% · KY 8.6%156th of 719 in KY
Income inequality (Gini)0.458
68th
U.S. 0.483 · KY 0.477231st of 715 in KY
Rent-burdened renters53.7%
62nd
U.S. 51.1% · KY 45.4%186th of 634 in KY
Median earnings per worker$50,357
57th
U.S. $49,666 · KY $43,552115th of 700 in KY
Uninsured rate5.1%
34th
U.S. 8.4% · KY 6%342nd of 723 in KY
Government workers11.7%
33rd
U.S. 14.5% · KY 14.6%468th of 719 in KY
Median gross rent$1,048
25th
U.S. $1,413 · KY $96780th of 467 in KY
Broadband access85.5%
14th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · KY 88.6%402nd of 719 in KY
Per capita income$27,538
13th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · KY $35,821390th of 722 in KY
Work from home6.1%
12th
U.S. 15.1% · KY 10.2%340th of 719 in KY
Median home value$148,100
9th
U.S. $332,700 · KY $205,600313th of 642 in KY
Foreign-born residents0.8%
5th
U.S. 14.1% · KY 4.7%314th of 724 in KY
Diversity index8.9
3rd
U.S. 61.4 · KY 32.5439th of 724 in KY
Population density15/sq mi
2nd
U.S. 95/sq mi · KY 115/sq mi698th of 724 in KY
Median household income$33,566
2nd
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · KY $63,726581st of 641 in KY
Population1,090
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · KY 4,534,824436th of 724 in KY
Bachelor's degree or higher5%
1st
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · KY 27.6%631st of 723 in KY
Residents under 185%
1st
U.S. 22% · KY 22.6%693rd of 724 in KY
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · KY 2.2%410th of 719 in KY

Measure	42259	Edmonson	KY	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in KY
Median age	62	45.6	39.1	38.9	99th	19th of 724
Average commuteWeakness	45.4 min	32.9 min	24 min	26.4 min	99th	28th of 624
Housing vacancy	52.7%	20.9%	10.3%	10.1%	99th	8th of 719
Residents 65 and older	40.9%	21.8%	17.3%	17.2%	99th	22nd of 724
Unemployment rateWeakness	12.7%	7.7%	4.9%	5.2%	98th	54th of 719
Veterans	15.3%	7.3%	6.5%	6.2%	98th	29th of 724
Homeownership rateStrength	91%	80.1%	68.3%	65.2%	97th	110th of 719
Healthcare workers	16.2%	6.2%	10.5%	9.7%	97th	125th of 719
Poverty rateWeakness	22.8%	15.3%	16.1%	12.5%	89th	237th of 722
Self-employed workers	12.4%	9.7%	8.6%	10%	79th	156th of 719
Income inequality (Gini)	0.458	0.449	0.477	0.483	68th	231st of 715
Rent-burdened renters	53.7%	27.7%	45.4%	51.1%	62nd	186th of 634
Median earnings per worker	$50,357	$43,343	$43,552	$49,666	57th	115th of 700
Uninsured rate	5.1%	7.5%	6%	8.4%	34th	342nd of 723
Government workers	11.7%	12.6%	14.6%	14.5%	33rd	468th of 719
Median gross rent	$1,048	$778	$967	$1,413	25th	80th of 467
Broadband accessWeakness	85.5%	87%	88.6%	91%	14th	402nd of 719
Per capita incomeWeakness	$27,538	$29,834	$35,821	$44,673	13th	390th of 722
Work from home	6.1%	7.4%	10.2%	15.1%	12th	340th of 719
Median home value	$148,100	$160,300	$205,600	$332,700	9th	313th of 642
Foreign-born residents	0.8%	1.4%	4.7%	14.1%	5th	314th of 724
Diversity index	8.9	15.8	32.5	61.4	3rd	439th of 724
Population density	15/sq mi	41/sq mi	115/sq mi	95/sq mi	2nd	698th of 724
Median household incomeWeakness	$33,566	$54,937	$63,726	$80,734	2nd	581st of 641
Population	1,090	12,355	4,534,824	334,922,499	1st	436th of 724
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	5%	10.7%	27.6%	35.7%	1st	631st of 723
Residents under 18	5%	18%	22.6%	22%	1st	693rd of 724
Tech workers	0%	0.9%	2.2%	3.8%	1st	410th 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

5–17

18–24

25–34

35–44

45–54

27%

55–64

29%

65–74

12%

75+

Median age

Under 18

65 and over

40.9%

Race and ethnicity

White95%
Black3%
Hispanic0.8%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial0.9%

Diversity index

8.9

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

0.8%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

73.2%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

99%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 509
Average household size: 1.9
Family households: 58.7%
Married couples: 51.1%
Living alone: 36.1%
Veterans (of adults): 15.3%
Male / female: 54% / 46%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

29%

$25–50k

33%

$50–75k

18%

$75–100k

$100–150k

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

42259

$33,566

Edmonson Co.

$54,937

Kentucky

$63,726

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$27,538

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

22.8%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

8.4%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.458

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

42259

$148,100

Edmonson Co.

$160,300

Kentucky

$205,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

42259

$1,048

Edmonson Co.

$778

Kentucky

$967

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

51%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

49%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 1,075
Owner-occupied: 91%
Vacant: 52.7%
Median year built: 1990
Median rooms: 5.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 53.7%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 31.7%
Home value to income: 4.4× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

78%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

13%

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

19%

20–29

30–44

45–59

25%

60+

36%

Average commute

45.4 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

12.7%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

31.9%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Construction and repair

21%

Healthcare

16%

Cleaning and personal care

12%

Office and admin

10%

Food service

Sales

Transportation and moving

Education

Management

Police and fire

Production

Business and finance

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Construction

16%

Health care and social assistance

14%

Admin, support and management

12%

Agriculture and mining

10%

Retail

Education

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Manufacturing

Finance, insurance and real estate

Arts and recreation

Restaurants and hotels

Professional and technical services

Wholesale

Public administration

Other services

Information

Median earnings per worker

$50,357

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

12.4%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

11.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.2%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	42259	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$60,298	$74,888
Service	$18,571	$26,804
Sales and office	$35,739	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$70,625	$49,199
Production and transportation	$63,125	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

15%

High school

46%

Some college

29%

Associate's

Bachelor's

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 85.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 5%
Graduate or professional degree: 1%
Households with broadband: 85.5%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 47.2%
No internet access: 13.9%
Without health insurance: 5.1%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Mammoth Cave
State: Kentucky
County: Edmonson County
Center point: 37.2297° N, 86.1647° W
Land area: 73 sq mi
Water area: 1.8 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Zip codes near 42259

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
42729	Cub Run, KY	6.5 mi	2,142	$54,706	$189,200
42207	Bee Spring, KY	7.2 mi	927	$45,463	$153,000
42285	Sweeden, KY	7.7 mi	531	$53,500	$176,300
42210	Brownsville, KY	8 mi	4,231	$48,333	$141,800
42160	Park City, KY	9.2 mi	2,822	$49,364	$157,000
42163	Rocky Hill, KY	11 mi	48	—	—
42726	Clarkson, KY	13 mi	4,758	$60,078	$204,200
42171	Smiths Grove, KY	13 mi	6,723	$70,191	$187,500
42765	Munfordville, KY	14 mi	7,149	$59,688	$143,600
42127	Cave City, KY	15 mi	7,030	$42,893	$164,000
42275	Roundhill, KY	16 mi	855	$45,391	$180,700
42749	Horse Cave, KY	16 mi	4,423	$45,500	$142,200

Zip codes like 42259 elsewhere

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

Questions about 42259

What city is zip code 42259?

42259 is assigned to Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 42259 in?

42259 is in Edmonson County, Kentucky.

What is the population of 42259?

About 1,090 people live in 42259, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 42259 in?

42259 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 42259?

The median household income in 42259 is $33,566.

What zip codes are near 42259?

The closest zip codes to 42259 are 42729, 42207, 42285, 42210, 42160.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 42259, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.