Zip code 42321: Beech Creek, Kentucky

Q: What city is zip code 42321?

42321 is assigned to Beech Creek, Kentucky. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 42321 in?

42321 is in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.

Q: What is the population of 42321?

About 553 people live in 42321, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 42321?

The median household income in 42321 is $53,750.

Q: What zip codes are near 42321?

The closest zip codes to 42321 are 42323, 42324, 42326, 42332, 42337.

Residential delivery areaMuhlenberg CountyCentral Time

Population

553

Median household income

$54K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$80K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

—

U.S. $1,413

Median age

37.1

U.S. 38.9

Land area

3.7 sq mi

151 people/sq mi

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

About 42321

42321 is a small-town zip code in Beech Creek, Kentucky (Muhlenberg County), covering 3.7 sq mi of land. About 553 people live here, or 151 per square mile. The median resident is 37.1 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $53,750 a year, 33% below the national median of $80,734. 12.8% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $79,800, or 1.5 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 93% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 35 minutes each way, and 0% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in construction and repair; sales; and food service.

How 42321 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Rent-burdened renters100%
99th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · KY 45.4%50th of 634 in KY
Homeownership rate92.5%
98th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · KY 68.3%86th of 719 in KY
Average commute35 min
91st
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · KY 24 min94th of 624 in KY
Residents 65 and older23.5%
88th
U.S. 17.2% · KY 17.3%132nd of 724 in KY
Healthcare workers11.3%
74th
U.S. 9.7% · KY 10.5%273rd of 719 in KY
Residents under 1824.6%
71st
U.S. 22% · KY 22.6%224th of 724 in KY
Poverty rate12.8%
60th
U.S. 12.5% · KY 16.1%486th of 722 in KY
Unemployment rate5.3%
57th
U.S. 5.2% · KY 4.9%264th of 719 in KY
Median age37.1
35th
U.S. 38.9 · KY 39.1554th of 724 in KY
Broadband access89.6%
31st
U.S. 91% · KY 88.6%253rd of 719 in KY
Income inequality (Gini)0.408
26th
U.S. 0.483 · KY 0.477444th of 715 in KY
Population density151/sq mi
18th
U.S. 95/sq mi · KY 115/sq mi167th of 724 in KY
Per capita income$27,924
14th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · KY $35,821372nd of 722 in KY
Median household income$53,750
13th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · KY $63,726369th of 641 in KY
Uninsured rate2.9%
12th
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · KY 6%504th of 723 in KY
Median earnings per worker$32,188
5th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · KY $43,552584th of 700 in KY
Government workers6.9%
4th
U.S. 14.5% · KY 14.6%610th of 719 in KY
Diversity index5.6
2nd
U.S. 61.4 · KY 32.5526th of 724 in KY
Population553
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · KY 4,534,824574th of 724 in KY
Median home value$79,800
1st
U.S. $332,700 · KY $205,600551st of 642 in KY
Bachelor's degree or higher7.1%
1st
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · KY 27.6%593rd of 723 in KY
Work from home0%
1st
U.S. 15.1% · KY 10.2%682nd of 719 in KY
Veterans0%
1st
U.S. 6.2% · KY 6.5%707th of 724 in KY
Foreign-born residents0%
1st
U.S. 14.1% · KY 4.7%647th of 724 in KY
Housing vacancy0%
1st
U.S. 10.1% · KY 10.3%707th of 719 in KY
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · KY 2.2%627th of 719 in KY
Self-employed workers0%
1st
U.S. 10% · KY 8.6%690th of 719 in KY

Measure	42321	Muhlenberg	KY	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in KY
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	100%	39.7%	45.4%	51.1%	99th	50th of 634
Homeownership rateStrength	92.5%	78.8%	68.3%	65.2%	98th	86th of 719
Average commuteWeakness	35 min	27 min	24 min	26.4 min	91st	94th of 624
Residents 65 and older	23.5%	20.2%	17.3%	17.2%	88th	132nd of 724
Healthcare workers	11.3%	12.9%	10.5%	9.7%	74th	273rd of 719
Residents under 18	24.6%	21.1%	22.6%	22%	71st	224th of 724
Poverty rate	12.8%	18.4%	16.1%	12.5%	60th	486th of 722
Unemployment rate	5.3%	5.7%	4.9%	5.2%	57th	264th of 719
Median age	37.1	43.2	39.1	38.9	35th	554th of 724
Broadband access	89.6%	84.2%	88.6%	91%	31st	253rd of 719
Income inequality (Gini)	0.408	0.474	0.477	0.483	26th	444th of 715
Population density	151/sq mi	66/sq mi	115/sq mi	95/sq mi	18th	167th of 724
Per capita incomeWeakness	$27,924	$30,585	$35,821	$44,673	14th	372nd of 722
Median household incomeWeakness	$53,750	$51,927	$63,726	$80,734	13th	369th of 641
Uninsured rateStrength	2.9%	4.8%	6%	8.4%	12th	504th of 723
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$32,188	$41,234	$43,552	$49,666	5th	584th of 700
Government workers	6.9%	17.2%	14.6%	14.5%	4th	610th of 719
Diversity index	5.6	15.3	32.5	61.4	2nd	526th of 724
Population	553	30,591	4,534,824	334,922,499	1st	574th of 724
Median home value	$79,800	$127,400	$205,600	$332,700	1st	551st of 642
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	7.1%	14.7%	27.6%	35.7%	1st	593rd of 723
Work from home	0%	4%	10.2%	15.1%	1st	682nd of 719
Veterans	0%	7.3%	6.5%	6.2%	1st	707th of 724
Foreign-born residents	0%	1.8%	4.7%	14.1%	1st	647th of 724
Housing vacancy	0%	10.6%	10.3%	10.1%	1st	707th of 719
Tech workers	0%	2.4%	2.2%	3.8%	1st	627th of 719
Self-employed workers	0%	8.6%	8.6%	10%	1st	690th 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

19%

5–17

18–24

17%

25–34

11%

35–44

45–54

13%

55–64

11%

65–74

12%

75+

Median age

37.1

Under 18

24.6%

65 and over

23.5%

Race and ethnicity

White97%
Black3%
Hispanic0%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial0%

Diversity index

5.6

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

82.6%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

100%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 212
Average household size: 2.6
Family households: 72.2%
Married couples: 46.7%
Living alone: 27.8%
Veterans (of adults): 0%
Male / female: 54% / 46%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

21%

$25–50k

11%

$50–75k

24%

$75–100k

17%

$100–150k

13%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

42321

$53,750

Muhlenberg Co.

$51,927

Kentucky

$63,726

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$27,924

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

12.8%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

12.7%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.408

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

42321

$79,800

Muhlenberg Co.

$127,400

Kentucky

$205,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

42321

—

Muhlenberg Co.

$718

Kentucky

$967

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

79%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

21%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 212
Owner-occupied: 92.5%
Vacant: 0%
Median year built: 1976
Median rooms: 7.5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 100%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 100%
Home value to income: 1.5× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

94%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

14%

20–29

34%

30–44

24%

45–59

60+

27%

Average commute

35 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

5.3%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

39.2%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Construction and repair

18%

Sales

15%

Food service

14%

Office and admin

12%

Healthcare

11%

Transportation and moving

10%

Education

Cleaning and personal care

Production

Management

Business and finance

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Health care and social assistance

24%

Retail

21%

Manufacturing

13%

Construction

11%

Agriculture and mining

10%

Restaurants and hotels

Education

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Professional and technical services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Public administration

Admin, support and management

Other services

Wholesale

Information

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$32,188

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

U.S. 10%

Government workers

6.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	42321	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	—	$74,888
Service	$40,625	$26,804
Sales and office	$7,240	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	—	$49,199
Production and transportation	—	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

10%

High school

39%

Some college

15%

Associate's

29%

Bachelor's

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 89.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 7.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.3%
Households with broadband: 89.6%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 65.1%
No internet access: 3.8%
Without health insurance: 2.9%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Beech Creek
State: Kentucky
County: Muhlenberg County
Center point: 37.1818° N, 87.0504° W
Land area: 3.7 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Beechmont (unincorporated)14% of zip

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

Zip codes near 42321

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
42323	Beechmont, KY	1.1 mi	852	$53,438	$161,900
42324	Belton, KY	3.4 mi	1,228	$77,898	$157,900
42326	Browder, KY	4.3 mi	283	$42,167	$162,500
42332	Cleaton, KY	5.2 mi	20	—	—
42337	Drakesboro, KY	5.7 mi	1,683	$36,875	$75,500
42339	Dunmor, KY	6.5 mi	840	$46,667	$110,700
42367	Powderly, KY	7.4 mi	949	$51,397	$100,400
42345	Greenville, KY	8.6 mi	11,440	$62,222	$138,500
42330	Central City, KY	10 mi	9,367	$50,226	$151,200
42273	Rochester, KY	11 mi	519	$59,745	—
42369	Rockport, KY	11 mi	223	$62,750	$77,300
42374	South Carrollton, KY	12 mi	124	$41,534	$123,100

Questions about 42321

What city is zip code 42321?

42321 is assigned to Beech Creek, Kentucky. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 42321 in?

42321 is in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.

What is the population of 42321?

About 553 people live in 42321, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 42321 in?

42321 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 42321?

The median household income in 42321 is $53,750.

What zip codes are near 42321?

The closest zip codes to 42321 are 42323, 42324, 42326, 42332, 42337.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 42321, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.