Zip code 42603: Alpha, Kentucky

Q: What city is zip code 42603?

42603 is assigned to Alpha, Kentucky. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 42603 in?

42603 is mostly in Wayne County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 42603?

About 694 people live in 42603, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 42603?

The median household income in 42603 is $53,229.

Q: What zip codes are near 42603?

The closest zip codes to 42603 are 42602, 42633, 42629, 38577, 38549.

Residential delivery areaWayne CountyEastern Time

Population

694

Median household income

$53K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$73K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$569/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

37.8

U.S. 38.9

Land area

11 sq mi

61 people/sq mi

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

About 42603

42603 is a small-town zip code in Alpha, Kentucky (Wayne County), covering 11 sq mi of land. About 694 people live here, or 61 per square mile. The median resident is 37.8 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $53,229 a year, 34% below the national median of $80,734. 30.4% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $73,000, or 1.4 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 92% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $569 a month.

7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 28.5 minutes each way, and 2% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in construction and repair; production and manufacturing; and transportation and moving goods. 24% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 42603 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Self-employed workers24.3%
99th
U.S. 10% · KY 8.6%36th of 719 in KY
Income inequality (Gini)0.586
99th
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · KY 0.47720th of 715 in KY
Homeownership rate92.4%
98th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · KY 68.3%89th of 719 in KY
Residents under 1831.6%
97th
U.S. 22% · KY 22.6%67th of 724 in KY
Poverty rate30.4%
96th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · KY 16.1%134th of 722 in KY
Rent-burdened renters65%
93rd
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · KY 45.4%115th of 634 in KY
Government workers20.7%
86th
U.S. 14.5% · KY 14.6%183rd of 719 in KY
Uninsured rate13.2%
84th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · KY 6%67th of 723 in KY
Housing vacancy13.5%
83rd
U.S. 10.1% · KY 10.3%323rd of 719 in KY
Average commute28.5 min
66th
U.S. 26.4 min · KY 24 min251st of 624 in KY
Median earnings per worker$45,208
41st
U.S. $49,666 · KY $43,552220th of 700 in KY
Median age37.8
40th
U.S. 38.9 · KY 39.1533rd of 724 in KY
Per capita income$35,364
35th
U.S. $44,673 · KY $35,821159th of 722 in KY
Broadband access86.8%
18th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · KY 88.6%348th of 719 in KY
Median household income$53,229
12th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · KY $63,726377th of 641 in KY
Residents 65 and older10.5%
10th
U.S. 17.2% · KY 17.3%640th of 724 in KY
Population density61/sq mi
9th
U.S. 95/sq mi · KY 115/sq mi348th of 724 in KY
Healthcare workers6.2%
9th
U.S. 9.7% · KY 10.5%524th of 719 in KY
Population694
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · KY 4,534,824527th of 724 in KY
Median home value$73,000
1st
U.S. $332,700 · KY $205,600567th of 642 in KY
Median gross rent$569
1st
U.S. $1,413 · KY $967433rd of 467 in KY
Bachelor's degree or higher7.4%
1st
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · KY 27.6%583rd of 723 in KY
Work from home1.8%
1st
U.S. 15.1% · KY 10.2%512th of 719 in KY
Unemployment rate0%
1st
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · KY 4.9%572nd of 719 in KY
Diversity index1.7
1st
U.S. 61.4 · KY 32.5600th of 724 in KY
Veterans0%
1st
U.S. 6.2% · KY 6.5%652nd of 724 in KY
Foreign-born residents0%
1st
U.S. 14.1% · KY 4.7%472nd of 724 in KY
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · KY 2.2%406th of 719 in KY

Measure	42603	Wayne	KY	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in KY
Self-employed workers	24.3%	7.4%	8.6%	10%	99th	36th of 719
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.586	0.475	0.477	0.483	99th	20th of 715
Homeownership rateStrength	92.4%	69.1%	68.3%	65.2%	98th	89th of 719
Residents under 18	31.6%	20.4%	22.6%	22%	97th	67th of 724
Poverty rateWeakness	30.4%	24.8%	16.1%	12.5%	96th	134th of 722
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	65%	39.6%	45.4%	51.1%	93rd	115th of 634
Government workers	20.7%	19%	14.6%	14.5%	86th	183rd of 719
Uninsured rateWeakness	13.2%	5.2%	6%	8.4%	84th	67th of 723
Housing vacancy	13.5%	20.3%	10.3%	10.1%	83rd	323rd of 719
Average commute	28.5 min	24.8 min	24 min	26.4 min	66th	251st of 624
Median earnings per worker	$45,208	$35,396	$43,552	$49,666	41st	220th of 700
Median age	37.8	43.8	39.1	38.9	40th	533rd of 724
Per capita income	$35,364	$25,596	$35,821	$44,673	35th	159th of 722
Broadband accessWeakness	86.8%	85.7%	88.6%	91%	18th	348th of 719
Median household incomeWeakness	$53,229	$45,739	$63,726	$80,734	12th	377th of 641
Residents 65 and older	10.5%	21.9%	17.3%	17.2%	10th	640th of 724
Population density	61/sq mi	43/sq mi	115/sq mi	95/sq mi	9th	348th of 724
Healthcare workers	6.2%	8.3%	10.5%	9.7%	9th	524th of 719
Population	694	19,602	4,534,824	334,922,499	1st	527th of 724
Median home value	$73,000	$135,700	$205,600	$332,700	1st	567th of 642
Median gross rent	$569	$727	$967	$1,413	1st	433rd of 467
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	7.4%	13.9%	27.6%	35.7%	1st	583rd of 723
Work from home	1.8%	10.8%	10.2%	15.1%	1st	512th of 719
Unemployment rateStrength	0%	5.8%	4.9%	5.2%	1st	572nd of 719
Diversity index	1.7	16.2	32.5	61.4	1st	600th of 724
Veterans	0%	6.3%	6.5%	6.2%	1st	652nd of 724
Foreign-born residents	0%	1.7%	4.7%	14.1%	1st	472nd of 724
Tech workers	0%	0.7%	2.2%	3.8%	1st	406th 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

26%

5–17

18–24

25–34

19%

35–44

17%

45–54

10%

55–64

10%

65–74

75+

Median age

37.8

Under 18

31.6%

65 and over

10.5%

Race and ethnicity

White99%
Black0%
Hispanic0%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial0.9%

Diversity index

1.7

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

77.4%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

97%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 288
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 69.4%
Married couples: 59.7%
Living alone: 20.8%
Veterans (of adults): 0%
Male / female: 47% / 53%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

30%

$25–50k

18%

$50–75k

13%

$75–100k

$100–150k

26%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

42603

$53,229

Wayne Co.

$45,739

Kentucky

$63,726

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$35,364

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

30.4%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

6.3%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.586

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

42603

$73,000

Wayne Co.

$135,700

Kentucky

$205,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

42603

$569

Wayne Co.

$727

Kentucky

$967

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

48%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

52%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 333
Owner-occupied: 92.4%
Vacant: 13.5%
Median year built: 2001
Median rooms: 5.5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 65%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 40%
Home value to income: 1.4× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

96%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

22%

10–19

44%

20–29

17%

30–44

45–59

60+

12%

Average commute

28.5 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

52.9%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Construction and repair

28%

Production

14%

Transportation and moving

13%

Education

Office and admin

Farming, fishing and forestry

Food service

Healthcare

Cleaning and personal care

Management

0.7%

Police and fire

0.4%

Business and finance

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Sales

Industries

Manufacturing

30%

Construction

24%

Health care and social assistance

14%

Education

12%

Agriculture and mining

10%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Retail

Admin, support and management

0.7%

Public administration

0.4%

Professional and technical services

Restaurants and hotels

Finance, insurance and real estate

Other services

Wholesale

Information

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$45,208

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

24.3%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

20.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	42603	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$47,083	$74,888
Service	$13,487	$26,804
Sales and office	—	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$37,150	$49,199
Production and transportation	$54,018	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

37%

High school

23%

Some college

20%

Associate's

13%

Bachelor's

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 63.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 7.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.7%
Households with broadband: 86.8%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 35.4%
No internet access: 11.5%
Without health insurance: 13.2%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Alpha
State: Kentucky
County: Wayne County
Center point: 36.7836° N, 85.0141° W
Land area: 11 sq mi
Water area: 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

42603 spans 2 counties

Wayne County55% of land
Clinton County45% of land

Zip codes near 42603

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
42602	Albany, KY	7.2 mi	8,948	$44,375	$124,100
42633	Monticello, KY	10 mi	18,606	$46,040	$138,900
42629	Jamestown, KY	11 mi	5,152	$36,484	$168,100
38577	Pall Mall, TN	16 mi	1,339	$52,578	$153,000
38549	Byrdstown, TN	17 mi	4,141	$49,617	$169,000
42741	Glens Fork, KY	19 mi	420	$78,269	$266,300
42642	Russell Springs, KY	19 mi	13,459	$52,633	$152,600
42544	Nancy, KY	20 mi	5,520	$60,895	$170,400
42717	Burkesville, KY	21 mi	5,969	$42,978	$145,100
42518	Bronston, KY	22 mi	3,031	$54,103	$156,000
42647	Stearns, KY	23 mi	3,349	$31,927	$80,600
38573	Monroe, TN	23 mi	2,097	$49,583	$182,100

Questions about 42603

What city is zip code 42603?

42603 is assigned to Alpha, Kentucky. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 42603 in?

42603 is mostly in Wayne County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 42603?

About 694 people live in 42603, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 42603 in?

42603 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 42603?

The median household income in 42603 is $53,229.

What zip codes are near 42603?

The closest zip codes to 42603 are 42602, 42633, 42629, 38577, 38549.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 42603, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.