Zip code 42553: Science Hill, Kentucky

Q: What city is zip code 42553?

42553 is assigned to Science Hill, Kentucky. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 42553 in?

42553 is in Pulaski County, Kentucky.

Q: What is the population of 42553?

About 5,649 people live in 42553, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 42553?

The median household income in 42553 is $52,737.

Q: What zip codes are near 42553?

The closest zip codes to 42553 are 42516, 42564, 42567, 42502, 42566.

Residential delivery areaPulaski CountyEastern Time

Population

5,649

Median household income

$53K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$155K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$942/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

37.7

U.S. 38.9

Land area

66 sq mi

86 people/sq mi

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

About 42553

42553 is a small-town zip code in Science Hill, Kentucky (Pulaski County), covering 66 sq mi of land. About 5,649 people live here, or 86 per square mile. The median resident is 37.7 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $52,737 a year, 35% below the national median of $80,734. 11.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $154,500, or 2.9 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 77% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $942 a month.

10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 21.8 minutes each way, and 3% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in construction and repair; office and administrative support; and sales.

How 42553 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Income inequality (Gini)0.504
90th
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · KY 0.47786th of 715 in KY
Unemployment rate7.5%
84th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · KY 4.9%155th of 719 in KY
Veterans8.3%
80th
U.S. 6.2% · KY 6.5%148th of 724 in KY
Residents under 1825.5%
78th
U.S. 22% · KY 22.6%185th of 724 in KY
Homeownership rate76.7%
71st
U.S. 65.2% · KY 68.3%382nd of 719 in KY
Housing vacancy9.6%
69th
U.S. 10.1% · KY 10.3%444th of 719 in KY
Self-employed workers10.3%
62nd
U.S. 10% · KY 8.6%233rd of 719 in KY
Government workers15%
60th
U.S. 14.5% · KY 14.6%345th of 719 in KY
Residents 65 and older17.7%
58th
U.S. 17.2% · KY 17.3%384th of 724 in KY
Poverty rate11.2%
52nd
U.S. 12.5% · KY 16.1%532nd of 722 in KY
Uninsured rate6.2%
44th
U.S. 8.4% · KY 6%265th of 723 in KY
Median age37.7
40th
U.S. 38.9 · KY 39.1536th of 724 in KY
Healthcare workers8.6%
36th
U.S. 9.7% · KY 10.5%435th of 719 in KY
Average commute21.8 min
22nd
U.S. 26.4 min · KY 24 min487th of 624 in KY
Per capita income$29,557
18th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · KY $35,821321st of 722 in KY
Rent-burdened renters41%
18th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · KY 45.4%344th of 634 in KY
Median gross rent$942
17th
U.S. $1,413 · KY $967131st of 467 in KY
Population density86/sq mi
12th
U.S. 95/sq mi · KY 115/sq mi255th of 724 in KY
Median household income$52,737
12th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · KY $63,726388th of 641 in KY
Median home value$154,500
10th
U.S. $332,700 · KY $205,600290th of 642 in KY
Population5,649
9th
U.S. 334,922,499 · KY 4,534,824192nd of 724 in KY
Tech workers0.7%
8th
U.S. 3.8% · KY 2.2%291st of 719 in KY
Foreign-born residents0.8%
5th
U.S. 14.1% · KY 4.7%326th of 724 in KY
Median earnings per worker$32,516
5th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · KY $43,552578th of 700 in KY
Broadband access78.1%
3rd
WeaknessU.S. 91% · KY 88.6%585th of 719 in KY
Bachelor's degree or higher9.9%
2nd
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · KY 27.6%529th of 723 in KY
Work from home2.5%
2nd
U.S. 15.1% · KY 10.2%487th of 719 in KY
Diversity index6.1
2nd
U.S. 61.4 · KY 32.5511th of 724 in KY

Measure	42553	Pulaski	KY	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in KY
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.504	0.474	0.477	0.483	90th	86th of 715
Unemployment rateWeakness	7.5%	4.9%	4.9%	5.2%	84th	155th of 719
Veterans	8.3%	7.6%	6.5%	6.2%	80th	148th of 724
Residents under 18	25.5%	22.2%	22.6%	22%	78th	185th of 724
Homeownership rate	76.7%	72.5%	68.3%	65.2%	71st	382nd of 719
Housing vacancy	9.6%	17.4%	10.3%	10.1%	69th	444th of 719
Self-employed workers	10.3%	9.7%	8.6%	10%	62nd	233rd of 719
Government workers	15%	15.9%	14.6%	14.5%	60th	345th of 719
Residents 65 and older	17.7%	19.5%	17.3%	17.2%	58th	384th of 724
Poverty rate	11.2%	19.7%	16.1%	12.5%	52nd	532nd of 722
Uninsured rate	6.2%	6.1%	6%	8.4%	44th	265th of 723
Median age	37.7	42.3	39.1	38.9	40th	536th of 724
Healthcare workers	8.6%	10.9%	10.5%	9.7%	36th	435th of 719
Average commute	21.8 min	23.3 min	24 min	26.4 min	22nd	487th of 624
Per capita incomeWeakness	$29,557	$29,394	$35,821	$44,673	18th	321st of 722
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	41%	50%	45.4%	51.1%	18th	344th of 634
Median gross rent	$942	$803	$967	$1,413	17th	131st of 467
Population density	86/sq mi	100/sq mi	115/sq mi	95/sq mi	12th	255th of 724
Median household incomeWeakness	$52,737	$51,898	$63,726	$80,734	12th	388th of 641
Median home value	$154,500	$166,900	$205,600	$332,700	10th	290th of 642
Population	5,649	65,897	4,534,824	334,922,499	9th	192nd of 724
Tech workers	0.7%	0.9%	2.2%	3.8%	8th	291st of 719
Foreign-born residents	0.8%	1.9%	4.7%	14.1%	5th	326th of 724
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$32,516	$37,336	$43,552	$49,666	5th	578th of 700
Broadband accessWeakness	78.1%	85.1%	88.6%	91%	3rd	585th of 719
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	9.9%	18.1%	27.6%	35.7%	2nd	529th of 723
Work from home	2.5%	6.7%	10.2%	15.1%	2nd	487th of 719
Diversity index	6.1	14.7	32.5	61.4	2nd	511th of 724

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

16%

25–34

12%

35–44

10%

45–54

12%

55–64

12%

65–74

75+

Median age

37.7

Under 18

25.5%

65 and over

17.7%

Race and ethnicity

White97%
Black0.2%
Hispanic1%
Asian0.4%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.0%
Multiracial1%

Diversity index

6.1

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

0.8%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

74.7%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

99%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 2,154
Average household size: 2.6
Family households: 69.5%
Married couples: 50.7%
Living alone: 26.2%
Veterans (of adults): 8.3%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

26%

$25–50k

22%

$50–75k

16%

$75–100k

11%

$100–150k

20%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

42553

$52,737

Pulaski Co.

$51,898

Kentucky

$63,726

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$29,557

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

11.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

4.4%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.504

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

42553

$154,500

Pulaski Co.

$166,900

Kentucky

$205,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

42553

$942

Pulaski Co.

$803

Kentucky

$967

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

76%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

0.2%

Mobile home

20%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 2,384
Owner-occupied: 76.7%
Vacant: 9.6%
Median year built: 1984
Median rooms: 5.6
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 41%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 35.9%
Home value to income: 2.9× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

83%

Carpooled

11%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

36%

20–29

31%

30–44

17%

45–59

60+

Average commute

21.8 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

7.5%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

55%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Construction and repair

14%

Office and admin

13%

Sales

12%

Production

12%

Cleaning and personal care

10%

Healthcare

Transportation and moving

Management

Food service

Education

Police and fire

Legal and social services

Engineering and science

Business and finance

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.9%

Computer and math

0.7%

Arts, media and sports

0.2%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

15%

Manufacturing

14%

Retail

13%

Restaurants and hotels

10%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Construction

Education

Other services

Admin, support and management

Professional and technical services

Public administration

Finance, insurance and real estate

Agriculture and mining

Information

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$32,516

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

10.3%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

15%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

9.5%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	42553	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$56,583	$74,888
Service	$18,872	$26,804
Sales and office	$25,938	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$52,563	$49,199
Production and transportation	$31,786	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

13%

High school

44%

Some college

23%

Associate's

11%

Bachelor's

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 87%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 9.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.7%
Households with broadband: 78.1%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 61.7%
No internet access: 17.5%
Without health insurance: 6.2%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Science Hill
State: Kentucky
County: Pulaski County
Center point: 37.1803° N, 84.6971° W
Land area: 66 sq mi
Water area: 0.8 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Science Hill1% of zip

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

Zip codes near 42553

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
42516	Bethelridge, KY	5.6 mi	540	$43,375	$172,000
42564	West Somerset, KY · PO box	7.5 mi	—	—	—
42567	Eubank, KY	7.8 mi	5,390	$46,526	$105,000
42502	Somerset, KY · PO box	8 mi	—	—	—
42566	Yosemite, KY	8.3 mi	541	$60,156	$130,600
42533	Ferguson, KY	9.4 mi	897	$41,000	$153,100
42503	Somerset, KY	9.9 mi	25,321	$54,707	$210,200
40442	Kings Mountain, KY	11 mi	781	—	$105,900
42565	Windsor, KY	12 mi	758	$70,692	$165,900
42544	Nancy, KY	12 mi	5,520	$60,895	$170,400
40489	Waynesburg, KY	13 mi	4,538	$56,034	$91,200
42541	Middleburg, KY	14 mi	498	$43,232	$127,800

Zip codes like 42553 elsewhere

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

Questions about 42553

What city is zip code 42553?

42553 is assigned to Science Hill, Kentucky. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 42553 in?

42553 is in Pulaski County, Kentucky.

What is the population of 42553?

About 5,649 people live in 42553, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 42553 in?

42553 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 42553?

The median household income in 42553 is $52,737.

What zip codes are near 42553?

The closest zip codes to 42553 are 42516, 42564, 42567, 42502, 42566.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 42553, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.