42501 and 42503 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
42501
42503
Opportunity
33 · Bottom 11%
vs37 · Bottom 16%
Growth
83 · Top 3%
vs83 · Top 3%
Climate
75 · Top 29%
vs75 · Top 29%
Physical resilience
57 · Bottom 48%
vs57 · Bottom 48%
Housing affordability
99 · Top 11%
vs90 · Top 33%
Schools
78 · Top 16%
vs87 · Top 6%
Access
40 · Bottom 2%
vs39 · Bottom 2%
Economic stability
23 · Bottom 4%
vs36 · Bottom 14%
Measured values
| Metric | 42501 | 42503 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,214 | 25,321 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $48,965 | $54,707 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $26,563 | $32,285 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 91/sq mi | 196/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $142,200 | $210,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $748 | $838 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.3% | 71.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.8% | 5.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.1% | -1.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.6% | 23.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 24.3% | 15.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 107 | 107 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 8.8 | 8.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 55.1% | 55.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 86°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 27°F | 27°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 51.3" | 51.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 90 mi | 97 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 20.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.5 | 42.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 7 | 8 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.39 | 15.87 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 45.7% | 48.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 52.1% | 62.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 65.1% | 59.5% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
42501
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, tornado.
42503
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, tornado.
Full profiles: 42501 — Somerset, KY · 42503 — Somerset, KY · How this is calculated: methodology