Zip code 42501: Somerset, Kentucky

Q: What city is zip code 42501?

42501 is assigned to Somerset, Kentucky. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 42501 in?

42501 is in Pulaski County, Kentucky.

Q: What is the population of 42501?

About 18,214 people live in 42501, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 42501?

The median household income in 42501 is $48,965.

Q: What zip codes are near 42501?

The closest zip codes to 42501 are 42533, 42503, 42519, 42564, 42502.

Residential delivery areaPulaski CountyEastern Time

Population

18,214

Median household income

$49K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$142K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$748/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

40.5

U.S. 38.9

Land area

200 sq mi

91 people/sq mi

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

About 42501

42501 is a small-town zip code in Somerset, Kentucky (Pulaski County), covering 200 sq mi of land. About 18,214 people live here, or 91 per square mile. The median resident is 40.5 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $48,965 a year, 39% below the national median of $80,734. 24.3% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $142,200, or 2.9 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 63% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $748 a month.

18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 25.9 minutes each way, and 8% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in office and administrative support; healthcare; and production and manufacturing.

How 42501 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Poverty rate24.3%
91st
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · KY 16.1%213th of 722 in KY
Healthcare workers12.9%
88th
U.S. 9.7% · KY 10.5%203rd of 719 in KY
Housing vacancy14.5%
85th
U.S. 10.1% · KY 10.3%298th of 719 in KY
Veterans8.7%
83rd
U.S. 6.2% · KY 6.5%134th of 724 in KY
Income inequality (Gini)0.470
76th
U.S. 0.483 · KY 0.477192nd of 715 in KY
Government workers17.6%
75th
U.S. 14.5% · KY 14.6%255th of 719 in KY
Rent-burdened renters53.8%
62nd
U.S. 51.1% · KY 45.4%185th of 634 in KY
Median age40.5
61st
U.S. 38.9 · KY 39.1430th of 724 in KY
Residents under 1823.3%
61st
U.S. 22% · KY 22.6%295th of 724 in KY
Uninsured rate6.8%
50th
U.S. 8.4% · KY 6%218th of 723 in KY
Residents 65 and older16.5%
50th
U.S. 17.2% · KY 17.3%458th of 724 in KY
Average commute25.9 min
49th
U.S. 26.4 min · KY 24 min334th of 624 in KY
Homeownership rate63.3%
38th
U.S. 65.2% · KY 68.3%613th of 719 in KY
Unemployment rate4.1%
36th
U.S. 5.2% · KY 4.9%338th of 719 in KY
Population18,214
28th
U.S. 334,922,499 · KY 4,534,82487th of 724 in KY
Work from home8.3%
24th
U.S. 15.1% · KY 10.2%265th of 719 in KY
Median earnings per worker$40,556
23rd
U.S. $49,666 · KY $43,552360th of 700 in KY
Self-employed workers7.2%
22nd
U.S. 10% · KY 8.6%399th of 719 in KY
Bachelor's degree or higher17.6%
15th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · KY 27.6%282nd of 723 in KY
Diversity index20.2
13th
U.S. 61.4 · KY 32.5216th of 724 in KY
Broadband access85.2%
13th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · KY 88.6%411th of 719 in KY
Population density91/sq mi
12th
U.S. 95/sq mi · KY 115/sq mi237th of 724 in KY
Per capita income$26,563
11th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · KY $35,821417th of 722 in KY
Median household income$48,965
8th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · KY $63,726431st of 641 in KY
Median home value$142,200
8th
U.S. $332,700 · KY $205,600329th of 642 in KY
Tech workers0.7%
8th
U.S. 3.8% · KY 2.2%290th of 719 in KY
Foreign-born residents1.2%
7th
U.S. 14.1% · KY 4.7%267th of 724 in KY
Median gross rent$748
4th
U.S. $1,413 · KY $967292nd of 467 in KY

Measure	42501	Pulaski	KY	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in KY
Poverty rateWeakness	24.3%	19.7%	16.1%	12.5%	91st	213th of 722
Healthcare workers	12.9%	10.9%	10.5%	9.7%	88th	203rd of 719
Housing vacancy	14.5%	17.4%	10.3%	10.1%	85th	298th of 719
Veterans	8.7%	7.6%	6.5%	6.2%	83rd	134th of 724
Income inequality (Gini)	0.470	0.474	0.477	0.483	76th	192nd of 715
Government workers	17.6%	15.9%	14.6%	14.5%	75th	255th of 719
Rent-burdened renters	53.8%	50%	45.4%	51.1%	62nd	185th of 634
Median age	40.5	42.3	39.1	38.9	61st	430th of 724
Residents under 18	23.3%	22.2%	22.6%	22%	61st	295th of 724
Uninsured rate	6.8%	6.1%	6%	8.4%	50th	218th of 723
Residents 65 and older	16.5%	19.5%	17.3%	17.2%	50th	458th of 724
Average commute	25.9 min	23.3 min	24 min	26.4 min	49th	334th of 624
Homeownership rate	63.3%	72.5%	68.3%	65.2%	38th	613th of 719
Unemployment rate	4.1%	4.9%	4.9%	5.2%	36th	338th of 719
Population	18,214	65,897	4,534,824	334,922,499	28th	87th of 724
Work from home	8.3%	6.7%	10.2%	15.1%	24th	265th of 719
Median earnings per worker	$40,556	$37,336	$43,552	$49,666	23rd	360th of 700
Self-employed workers	7.2%	9.7%	8.6%	10%	22nd	399th of 719
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	17.6%	18.1%	27.6%	35.7%	15th	282nd of 723
Diversity index	20.2	14.7	32.5	61.4	13th	216th of 724
Broadband accessWeakness	85.2%	85.1%	88.6%	91%	13th	411th of 719
Population density	91/sq mi	100/sq mi	115/sq mi	95/sq mi	12th	237th of 724
Per capita incomeWeakness	$26,563	$29,394	$35,821	$44,673	11th	417th of 722
Median household incomeWeakness	$48,965	$51,898	$63,726	$80,734	8th	431st of 641
Median home value	$142,200	$166,900	$205,600	$332,700	8th	329th of 642
Tech workers	0.7%	0.9%	2.2%	3.8%	8th	290th of 719
Foreign-born residents	1.2%	1.9%	4.7%	14.1%	7th	267th of 724
Median gross rent	$748	$803	$967	$1,413	4th	292nd of 467

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

18%

5–17

18–24

12%

25–34

14%

35–44

11%

45–54

16%

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

40.5

Under 18

23.3%

65 and over

16.5%

Race and ethnicity

White89%
Black2%
Hispanic5%
Asian0.2%
Native American0.1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

20.2

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

1.2%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

76.8%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

99%

Spanish

0.6%

Other Indo-European

0.7%

Asian / Pacific

Other

0.2%

Households

Households: 7,079
Average household size: 2.5
Family households: 66%
Married couples: 43.8%
Living alone: 25.6%
Veterans (of adults): 8.7%
Male / female: 48% / 52%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

28%

$25–50k

24%

$50–75k

17%

$75–100k

14%

$100–150k

11%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

42501

$48,965

Pulaski Co.

$51,898

Kentucky

$63,726

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$26,563

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

24.3%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

7.1%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.470

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

42501

$142,200

Pulaski Co.

$166,900

Kentucky

$205,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

42501

$748

Pulaski Co.

$803

Kentucky

$967

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

72%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

0.6%

Mobile home

16%

Boat, RV, van

0.1%

Housing units: 8,281
Owner-occupied: 63.3%
Vacant: 14.5%
Median year built: 1978
Median rooms: 5.8
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 53.8%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 31.4%
Home value to income: 2.9× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

74%

Carpooled

15%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

0.1%

Worked from home

Other

0.8%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

22%

10–19

35%

20–29

17%

30–44

11%

45–59

60+

Average commute

25.9 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

4.1%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

52%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Office and admin

14%

Healthcare

13%

Production

12%

Sales

11%

Management

Transportation and moving

Construction and repair

Cleaning and personal care

Legal and social services

Education

Business and finance

Police and fire

Food service

Engineering and science

Computer and math

0.7%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.3%

Arts, media and sports

0.2%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

21%

Manufacturing

16%

Retail

13%

Admin, support and management

Finance, insurance and real estate

Restaurants and hotels

Education

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Public administration

Construction

Other services

Professional and technical services

Wholesale

Agriculture and mining

Information

0.7%

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$40,556

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

7.2%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

17.6%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

4.4%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	42501	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$52,378	$74,888
Service	$21,990	$26,804
Sales and office	$36,872	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$49,615	$49,199
Production and transportation	$45,417	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

15%

High school

36%

Some college

22%

Associate's

Bachelor's

11%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 85.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 17.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 6.6%
Households with broadband: 85.2%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 68.5%
No internet access: 9.6%
Without health insurance: 6.8%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Somerset
State: Kentucky
County: Pulaski County
Center point: 37.0562° N, 84.4509° W
Land area: 200 sq mi
Water area: 3.9 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Somerset4% of zip

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

Zip codes near 42501

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
42533	Ferguson, KY	7.9 mi	897	$41,000	$153,100
42503	Somerset, KY	8 mi	25,321	$54,707	$210,200
42519	Burnside, KY	8.4 mi	2,756	$41,964	$136,200
42564	West Somerset, KY · PO box	8.7 mi	—	—	—
42502	Somerset, KY · PO box	8.8 mi	—	—	—
42558	Tateville, KY · PO box	10 mi	—	—	—
42634	Parkers Lake, KY	11 mi	1,646	$31,250	$68,900
42518	Bronston, KY	15 mi	3,031	$54,103	$156,000
42553	Science Hill, KY	16 mi	5,649	$52,737	$154,500
42567	Eubank, KY	17 mi	5,390	$46,526	$105,000
40737	Keavy, KY	17 mi	1,782	$47,096	$137,000
40701	Corbin, KY	19 mi	30,526	$47,204	$160,700

Zip codes like 42501 elsewhere

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

Questions about 42501

What city is zip code 42501?

42501 is assigned to Somerset, Kentucky. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 42501 in?

42501 is in Pulaski County, Kentucky.

What is the population of 42501?

About 18,214 people live in 42501, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 42501 in?

42501 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 42501?

The median household income in 42501 is $48,965.

What zip codes are near 42501?

The closest zip codes to 42501 are 42533, 42503, 42519, 42564, 42502.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 42501, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.