40965 ZIP Code — Middlesboro, KY

Bell County, Kentucky

ZIP code 40965 is located in Middlesboro, Kentucky, within Bell County. It covers approximately 86.29 square miles and serves a population of 11,635 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Eastern (ET) timezone, served by area code 606.

About ZIP code 40965

The housing stock consists of a higher-than-average concentration of mobile homes. Most homes were built in the 1970s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $82,700. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 58%.

Median household income is $30,000. Poverty affects 30% of residents, above the national average. SNAP benefit usage at 25% of households reflects economic stress in the area. 52% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 19 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 12% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of obesity (44%), diabetes (16%), smoking (32%) compared to national benchmarks.

Notable community characteristics include disability rates above the national average at 27%.

Overall, ZIP code 40965 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, economic challenges above the national average, a significant Social Security-dependent population, and elevated reliance on food assistance.

11,635

population

86.29

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Eastern (ET)

timezone

40965 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 40965

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 40965. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Middlesboro	Acceptable
Middlesboro	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

40813 Calvin (5.6 mi) 37724 Cumberland Gap (6.7 mi) 40977 Pineville (6.8 mi) 24248 Ewing (8.5 mi) 37752 Harrogate (9.7 mi) 40856 Miracle (10.4 mi) 40939 Fourmile (10.8 mi) 40995 Trosper (11.4 mi) 37715 Clairfield (11.8 mi) 40940 Frakes (12.4 mi) 37870 Speedwell (14 mi) 40935 Flat Lick (14.4 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	11,635
Population density	135 / sq mi
State FIPS	21
County FIPS	013

Geography
Land area	86.29 sq mi
Water area	0.52 sq mi
Latitude	36.6443
Longitude	-83.6921
Timezone	Eastern (ET)
Area code	606

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	74.7%	72.9%	47.9%
$50k – $100k	20.7%	21.8%	30.3%
$100k – $200k	3.5%	4.5%	17.6%
Over $200k	1.1%	0.8%	4.2%

Demographics & statistics

11,635

Population

135

People per sq mi

41.5

Median age

$30,000

Median household income

$19,651

Per capita income

$82,700

Median home value

$611

Median monthly rent

57.7%

Home ownership

29.9%

Poverty rate

10.6%

Unemployment

3,887

Housing units

12.4%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

306

Under 5

317

412

5–9

426

365

10–14

378

292

15–19

302

352

20–24

364

747

25–34

771

644

35–44

665

623

45–54

643

514

55–59

530

326

60–64

336

586

65–74

606

349

75–84

361

207

85+

213

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	2,571	22.1%
18 and over	9,064	77.9%
65 and over	2,322	20.0%
Median age	41.5 years

Race & ethnicity

White 92.5%

Two or more races 3.4%

Black or African American 2.8%

Hispanic or Latino 0.7%

Asian 0.2%

Other race 0.2%

American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%

Group	Count	%
White	10,848	92.5%
Two or more races	399	3.4%
Black or African American	325	2.8%
Hispanic or Latino	87	0.7%
Asian	28	0.2%
Other race	20	0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native	15	0.1%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	74.7%	72.9%	47.9%
$50k – $100k	20.7%	21.8%	30.3%
$100k – $200k	3.5%	4.5%	17.6%
Over $200k	1.1%	0.8%	4.2%

Under $10k 13.7%

$10k–$15k 11.3%

$15k–$25k 16.8%

$25k–$35k 12.5%

$35k–$50k 12.7%

$50k–$75k 17.2%

$75k–$100k 6.7%

$100k–$150k 6.9%

$150k–$200k 1.3%

$200k+ 1.0%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	13.7%
$10k–$15k	11.3%
$15k–$25k	16.8%
$25k–$35k	12.5%
$35k–$50k	12.7%
$50k–$75k	17.2%
$75k–$100k	6.7%
$100k–$150k	6.9%
$150k–$200k	1.3%
$200k+	1.0%
Median income	$30,000

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 18.8%

$50k–$100k 39.0%

$100k–$150k 11.5%

$150k–$200k 18.2%

$200k–$300k 7.7%

$300k–$500k 2.7%

$500k–$1M 1.2%

$1M+ 1.0%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$82,700
Median rent / month	$611
Owner occupied	57.7%
Renter occupied	42.3%
Vacant	17.7%
Single-family detached	62.0%
Large apartment buildings	2.3%
Mobile homes	17.7%
Median rooms	5.2
Avg household size (owned)	2.36

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.4%
2010–2019	3.2%
2000–2009	13.5%
1990–1999	9.2%
1980–1989	14.8%
1970–1979	16.5%
1960–1969	14.8%
1950–1959	15.1%
1940–1949	4.2%
1939 or earlier	8.2%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	4.5%
1 bedroom	6.2%
2 bedrooms	39.1%
3 bedrooms	39.5%
4 bedrooms	7.6%
5+ bedrooms	3.2%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	8.8%
1 vehicle	47.9%
2 vehicles	27.2%
3 or more	16.1%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	16.1%
Electricity	78.3%
Propane / LP gas	1.1%
Fuel oil	0.8%
Wood	3.2%
No fuel used	0.4%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	1,674	34.1%
Cohabiting couple	210	4.3%
Male householder, no spouse	1,234	25.2%
Female householder, no spouse	1,788	36.4%
Households with children under 18	1,244	25.4%
Households with seniors (65+)	1,838	37.5%
Average household size	2.34

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	33.4%	27.4%
Married	41.0%	37.7%
Separated	0.6%	4.7%
Widowed	9.1%	16.0%
Divorced	16.0%	14.2%

Education

Less than 9th grade 7.7%

Some HS, no diploma 13.1%

HS graduate 35.7%

Some college, no degree 21.9%

Associate's degree 9.2%

Bachelor's degree 7.9%

Graduate / professional 4.5%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	79.2%
Bachelor's or higher	12.4%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	177	6.8%
Kindergarten	267	10.2%
Elementary school	1,129	43.3%
High school	594	22.8%
College / grad school	442	16.9%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 31.9%

Retail trade 14.0%

Manufacturing 10.7%

Arts, food & hospitality 9.8%

Professional & management 7.6%

Public administration 6.2%

Other services 3.9%

Transportation & utilities 3.7%

Finance & real estate 3.7%

Agriculture & mining 3.4%

Construction 2.8%

Wholesale trade 1.4%

Information 1.0%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	28.3%
Service	22.6%
Sales & office	24.8%
Natural resources & construction	8.0%
Production & transportation	16.4%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	73.3%
Government	20.4%
Self-employed	6.3%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	66.3%
Carpool	24.7%
Public transit	0.0%
Walk	3.1%
Work from home	5.6%
Other means	0.3%
Avg commute (minutes)	18.5

Poverty

All people 29.9%

Under 18 years 34.8%

18 and over 28.6%

Married-couple families 13.0%

Female-led households 40.7%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	51.5%
Retirement income	25.3%
Supplemental Security	14.0%
Cash public assistance	10.7%
Food stamps / SNAP	25.3%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	44.4%
High blood pressure	48.4%
High cholesterol	41.1%
Diabetes	16.4%
Heart disease	10.5%
Stroke	5.5%
Asthma	13.2%
Arthritis	38.0%
Kidney disease	4.5%
Pulmonary disease	16.8%
Cancer	7.2%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	32.3%
Binge drinking	13.2%
No physical activity	42.0%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	41.2%
Depression	28.9%
Fair or poor health	31.4%
Poor mental health	21.4%
Poor physical health	20.4%
No health insurance	14.4%
Visited doctor (checkup)	77.7%
Visited dentist	42.6%
Cholesterol screening	87.2%
Teeth loss	31.0%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	399	4.4%

Disability	%
Any disability	27.1%
Under 18	10.2%
18–64 years	26.1%
65 and over	49.6%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	39.2%
Public insurance	70.4%
No insurance	5.2%
Uninsured under 19	4.3%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	11,012	94.6%
Spanish	0	0.0%
Other Indo-European	0	0.0%
Asian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Other languages	0	0.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	11,611	99.8%
Born in same state	11,601	99.7%
Born in different state	8,689	74.7%
Foreign born	10	0.1%
Naturalized citizen	24	0.2%
Not a US citizen	24	100.0%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Italian	1,114	9.6%
Arab	1,051	9%
French	972	8.4%

Ancestry	Count	%
English	48	0.4%
Polish	18	0.2%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	42.2%
Internet access	81.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 40965

What city is ZIP code 40965 in?

ZIP code 40965 is primarily assigned to Middlesboro, Kentucky.

What county is ZIP code 40965 in?

ZIP code 40965 falls within Bell County, Kentucky.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 40965?

30% of residents in ZIP code 40965 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

Does ZIP code 40965 have a large retiree population?

52% of households in ZIP code 40965 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

How educated is the population of ZIP code 40965?

12% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average of ~33%, consistent with a trades-oriented local economy.

What are the health statistics for ZIP code 40965?

Health data for ZIP code 40965 shows elevated rates of obesity (44%) and diabetes (16%) and smoking (32%) compared to national benchmarks.

What timezone is ZIP code 40965 in?

ZIP code 40965 observes the EST timezone.