Zip code 42653: Whitley City, Kentucky

Q: What city is zip code 42653?

42653 is assigned to Whitley City, Kentucky. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 42653 in?

42653 is in McCreary County, Kentucky.

Q: What is the population of 42653?

About 4,300 people live in 42653, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 42653?

The median household income in 42653 is $42,656.

Q: What zip codes are near 42653?

The closest zip codes to 42653 are 42631, 42638, 42634, 42635, 42649.

Residential delivery areaMcCreary CountyEastern Time

Population

4,300

Median household income

$43K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$109K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$645/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

36.2

U.S. 38.9

Land area

81 sq mi

53 people/sq mi

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

About 42653

42653 is a small-town zip code in Whitley City, Kentucky (McCreary County), covering 81 sq mi of land. About 4,300 people live here, or 53 per square mile. The median resident is 36.2 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $42,656 a year, about 53% of the national median of $80,734. 38.7% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $109,200, or 2.6 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 74% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $645 a month.

7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 38 minutes each way, and 6% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in healthcare; office and administrative support; and production and manufacturing.

How 42653 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Poverty rate38.7%
99th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · KY 16.1%75th of 722 in KY
Healthcare workers18.6%
99th
U.S. 9.7% · KY 10.5%93rd of 719 in KY
Average commute38 min
96th
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · KY 24 min63rd of 624 in KY
Housing vacancy22%
95th
U.S. 10.1% · KY 10.3%152nd of 719 in KY
Residents under 1829.9%
95th
U.S. 22% · KY 22.6%89th of 724 in KY
Veterans9.1%
85th
U.S. 6.2% · KY 6.5%109th of 724 in KY
Uninsured rate9.4%
68th
U.S. 8.4% · KY 6%124th of 723 in KY
Homeownership rate73.9%
64th
U.S. 65.2% · KY 68.3%456th of 719 in KY
Rent-burdened renters51.3%
52nd
U.S. 51.1% · KY 45.4%203rd of 634 in KY
Government workers13.9%
52nd
U.S. 14.5% · KY 14.6%376th of 719 in KY
Income inequality (Gini)0.430
46th
U.S. 0.483 · KY 0.477356th of 715 in KY
Median age36.2
29th
U.S. 38.9 · KY 39.1575th of 724 in KY
Broadband access86%
15th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · KY 88.6%385th of 719 in KY
Work from home6.3%
13th
U.S. 15.1% · KY 10.2%332nd of 719 in KY
Residents 65 and older10.8%
12th
U.S. 17.2% · KY 17.3%637th of 724 in KY
Population density53/sq mi
8th
U.S. 95/sq mi · KY 115/sq mi380th of 724 in KY
Population4,300
7th
U.S. 334,922,499 · KY 4,534,824224th of 724 in KY
Unemployment rate2.2%
7th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · KY 4.9%482nd of 719 in KY
Diversity index13.8
7th
U.S. 61.4 · KY 32.5318th of 724 in KY
Median earnings per worker$34,015
7th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · KY $43,552547th of 700 in KY
Foreign-born residents0.9%
5th
U.S. 14.1% · KY 4.7%307th of 724 in KY
Median household income$42,656
4th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · KY $63,726499th of 641 in KY
Median home value$109,200
3rd
U.S. $332,700 · KY $205,600443rd of 642 in KY
Median gross rent$645
2nd
U.S. $1,413 · KY $967394th of 467 in KY
Per capita income$16,787
1st
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · KY $35,821664th of 722 in KY
Bachelor's degree or higher7.4%
1st
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · KY 27.6%585th of 723 in KY
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · KY 2.2%594th of 719 in KY
Self-employed workers2.2%
1st
U.S. 10% · KY 8.6%574th of 719 in KY

Measure	42653	McCreary	KY	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in KY
Poverty rateWeakness	38.7%	38.9%	16.1%	12.5%	99th	75th of 722
Healthcare workers	18.6%	15.7%	10.5%	9.7%	99th	93rd of 719
Average commuteWeakness	38 min	32.3 min	24 min	26.4 min	96th	63rd of 624
Housing vacancy	22%	15.3%	10.3%	10.1%	95th	152nd of 719
Residents under 18	29.9%	21.8%	22.6%	22%	95th	89th of 724
Veterans	9.1%	5.9%	6.5%	6.2%	85th	109th of 724
Uninsured rate	9.4%	8.1%	6%	8.4%	68th	124th of 723
Homeownership rate	73.9%	74.2%	68.3%	65.2%	64th	456th of 719
Rent-burdened renters	51.3%	46.5%	45.4%	51.1%	52nd	203rd of 634
Government workers	13.9%	23.7%	14.6%	14.5%	52nd	376th of 719
Income inequality (Gini)	0.430	0.490	0.477	0.483	46th	356th of 715
Median age	36.2	39	39.1	38.9	29th	575th of 724
Broadband accessWeakness	86%	80.1%	88.6%	91%	15th	385th of 719
Work from home	6.3%	9.2%	10.2%	15.1%	13th	332nd of 719
Residents 65 and older	10.8%	16.2%	17.3%	17.2%	12th	637th of 724
Population density	53/sq mi	40/sq mi	115/sq mi	95/sq mi	8th	380th of 724
Population	4,300	16,867	4,534,824	334,922,499	7th	224th of 724
Unemployment rateStrength	2.2%	4.2%	4.9%	5.2%	7th	482nd of 719
Diversity index	13.8	20.7	32.5	61.4	7th	318th of 724
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$34,015	$33,517	$43,552	$49,666	7th	547th of 700
Foreign-born residents	0.9%	0.9%	4.7%	14.1%	5th	307th of 724
Median household incomeWeakness	$42,656	$33,750	$63,726	$80,734	4th	499th of 641
Median home value	$109,200	$85,300	$205,600	$332,700	3rd	443rd of 642
Median gross rent	$645	$577	$967	$1,413	2nd	394th of 467
Per capita incomeWeakness	$16,787	$17,150	$35,821	$44,673	1st	664th of 722
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	7.4%	8.5%	27.6%	35.7%	1st	585th of 723
Tech workers	0%	1.4%	2.2%	3.8%	1st	594th of 719
Self-employed workers	2.2%	7%	8.6%	10%	1st	574th 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

24%

5–17

18–24

14%

25–34

15%

35–44

12%

45–54

13%

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

36.2

Under 18

29.9%

65 and over

10.8%

Race and ethnicity

White93%
Black1%
Hispanic0.8%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0.3%
Other0%
Multiracial5%

Diversity index

13.8

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

0.9%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

69.7%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

96%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 1,287
Average household size: 3.3
Family households: 72.9%
Married couples: 48.4%
Living alone: 22.5%
Veterans (of adults): 9.1%
Male / female: 52% / 48%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

33%

$25–50k

23%

$50–75k

19%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

42653

$42,656

McCreary Co.

$33,750

Kentucky

$63,726

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$16,787

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

38.7%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

4.9%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.430

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

42653

$109,200

McCreary Co.

$85,300

Kentucky

$205,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

42653

$645

McCreary Co.

$577

Kentucky

$967

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

72%

2–4 units

0.5%

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

23%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 1,649
Owner-occupied: 73.9%
Vacant: 22%
Median year built: 1986
Median rooms: 5.9
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 51.3%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 29.8%
Home value to income: 2.6× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

68%

Carpooled

22%

Transit

0.2%

Walked

0.2%

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

19%

20–29

30–44

34%

45–59

18%

60+

18%

Average commute

38 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

2.2%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

40.7%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Healthcare

19%

Office and admin

16%

Production

13%

Transportation and moving

12%

Management

Sales

Police and fire

Construction and repair

Cleaning and personal care

Food service

Legal and social services

Education

Business and finance

0.7%

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Manufacturing

27%

Health care and social assistance

22%

Public administration

Retail

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Arts and recreation

Information

Wholesale

Construction

Admin, support and management

Restaurants and hotels

Other services

Education

Agriculture and mining

0.9%

Finance, insurance and real estate

0.7%

Professional and technical services

0.5%

Median earnings per worker

$34,015

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

2.2%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

13.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

2.2%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	42653	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$54,732	$74,888
Service	$29,014	$26,804
Sales and office	$25,942	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$29,167	$49,199
Production and transportation	$33,550	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

20%

High school

38%

Some college

22%

Associate's

12%

Bachelor's

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 79.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 7.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 1.1%
Households with broadband: 86%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 78.6%
No internet access: 11.7%
Without health insurance: 9.4%
Limited-English households: 0.6%

Geography

City (USPS): Whitley City
State: Kentucky
County: McCreary County
Center point: 36.7821° N, 84.4547° W
Land area: 81 sq mi
Water area: 1.3 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Whitley City (unincorporated)3% of zip

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

Zip codes near 42653

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
42631	Marshes Siding, KY	3.2 mi	66	—	—
42638	Revelo, KY	7.5 mi	235	$11,595	$27,800
42634	Parkers Lake, KY	7.9 mi	1,646	$31,250	$68,900
42635	Pine Knot, KY	7.9 mi	4,736	$24,412	$91,300
42649	Strunk, KY	11 mi	2,003	$38,382	$98,200
42647	Stearns, KY	12 mi	3,349	$31,927	$80,600
42519	Burnside, KY	13 mi	2,756	$41,964	$136,200
42518	Bronston, KY	13 mi	3,031	$54,103	$156,000
42558	Tateville, KY · PO box	14 mi	—	—	—
40769	Williamsburg, KY	16 mi	18,218	$43,878	$105,500
37892	Winfield, TN	17 mi	1,631	$42,734	$109,800
40730	Emlyn, KY · PO box	18 mi	—	—	—

Zip codes like 42653 elsewhere

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

Questions about 42653

What city is zip code 42653?

42653 is assigned to Whitley City, Kentucky. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 42653 in?

42653 is in McCreary County, Kentucky.

What is the population of 42653?

About 4,300 people live in 42653, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 42653 in?

42653 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 42653?

The median household income in 42653 is $42,656.

What zip codes are near 42653?

The closest zip codes to 42653 are 42631, 42638, 42634, 42635, 42649.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 42653, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.