42503 and 42501 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
42503
42501
Opportunity
37 · Bottom 16%
vs33 · Bottom 11%
Growth
83 · Top 3%
vs83 · Top 3%
Climate
75 · Top 29%
vs75 · Top 29%
Physical resilience
57 · Bottom 48%
vs57 · Bottom 48%
Housing affordability
90 · Top 33%
vs99 · Top 11%
Schools
87 · Top 6%
vs78 · Top 16%
Access
39 · Bottom 2%
vs40 · Bottom 2%
Economic stability
36 · Bottom 14%
vs23 · Bottom 4%
Measured values
| Metric | 42503 | 42501 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,321 | 18,214 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $54,707 | $48,965 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,285 | $26,563 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 196/sq mi | 91/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $210,200 | $142,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $838 | $748 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.6% | 63.3% | 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 | 23.4% | 17.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | 24.3% | 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 | 97 mi | 90 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.5 min | 25.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.3 | 40.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 7 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.87 | 16.39 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 48.5% | 45.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 62.8% | 52.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 59.5% | 65.1% | 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
42503
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, tornado.
42501
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, tornado.
Full profiles: 42503 — Somerset, KY · 42501 — Somerset, KY · How this is calculated: methodology