ZIP Code 42085 — Water Valley CDP, KY Demographics & Data

ZIP code 42085 covers Water Valley, KY in Graves County with a population of about 918.

At a glance, the area shows median age of 36.7 versus a U.S. median of about 38.9.

It sits in telephone area codes 270, 364; U.S. House district KY-1; the PADUCAH - CAPE GIRAR D - HARSBG media market.

Median household income in ZIP 42085 is about $55,662 — about 26% below the U.S. median ($75,149).

On socioeconomic markers, US5 shows a poverty rate of 31.1%; unemployment rate near 2.0%; 4.1% of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (about 29.6 points below the national share (33.7%)).

Labor and commute patterns include leading industry context around Transportation, Manufacturing, and Food services; a mean commute of about 180.0 minutes (U.S. average near 26.8).

Median home value is about $101,800 — about 71% below the U.S. median home value ($348,079).

Housing tenure and rents show median gross rent around $607 (about 48% below the U.S. median rent ($1,163)), and owner-occupancy near 74.8% (about 9.4 points above the national owner-occupancy rate (65.4%)).

To comfortably buy a median-priced home in ZIP 42085 in Water Valley, KY, a household would need roughly $28,000 in annual income under a 20% down, 30-year loan at 6.8% (illustrative), keeping housing costs near 28% of income. Estimated monthly PITI is about $654. That sits below the local median household income ($55,662), suggesting the typical household income is closer to a workable buy-in level under these assumptions. Rates, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees vary — treat this as a planning estimate, not a lender quote.

FEMA’s National Risk Index rates natural-hazard risk for Water Valley CDP, KY as Relatively Moderate (composite score 84.0), which is elevated versus much of the country. The strongest component scores on US5 are flood (56.8) and hurricane (48.7). These scores are county-linked NRI values published for planning context — all ZIP codes in the same county share the same composite score on US5. Useful when comparing insurance and disaster exposure across areas, not a substitute for a parcel-level flood or fire determination.

Climate normals for Water Valley CDP, KY show little to no average snow and around 54.7 inches of annual precipitation.

IRS migration statistics show a net inflow of about 34 for ZIP 42085 (Water Valley CDP, KY) on US5’s published series — a signal of people/tax filers moving in relative to those leaving. Inflows often track job growth, housing demand, or lifestyle migration; treat the figure as a directional indicator rather than a precise headcount.