PlainZIP

Lincoln, NE · standard

ZIP Code 68502

Lancaster County, Nebraska - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

26,238
1,714/sq mi
$68,523
Median income
$227,300
Median home value
39.4%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Lincoln pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

44th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 49%
home value, US ZIPs
1,714
people per sq mi
56%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 68502 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 68502 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, with 26,238 residents across 15.3 square miles, a density of 1,714 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 68502 reports a modest median household income of $68,523 (11% below the Nebraska average), while per-capita income is $38,066. Poverty here runs at 13.3%, with unemployment measured at 4.6%. Housing costs here run $227,300 for a typical home value (22% above the state average), with rent averaging $850 a month; 55.6% of homes are owner-occupied.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 39.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.4, and the average commute is 18 minutes. Beyond these figures, 10 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Lancaster County, letting you compare 68502 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 68502

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Lincoln, NE

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 68502.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 68502, Lincoln, NE · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

26,238

Population

15.3

Area (sq mi)

1,714

People / sq mi

Chicago

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 68502?

36.4

Median Age

51.9%

Male

48.1%

Female

8.4%

Foreign-Born

White 72.7%
African American 6.3%
Asian 3.1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 14.5%
Hispanic or Latino 10.4%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$68,523

Median Household Income

-11% vs state

$38,066

Per Capita Income

13.3%

Poverty Rate

4.6%

Unemployment Rate

17.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 68502 ranks nationally

Lincoln, NE household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$68,523 44th percentile higher than 44% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 60.2%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 39.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

11,843

Total Housing Units

11,208

Occupied Units

635

Vacant Units

2.17

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 55.6%
Renter 44.4%

$227,300

Median Home Value

+22% vs state

$850

Median Rent

1946

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+3.6%

YoY Change (2024)

240

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+140%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 68502 have increased 3.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +140% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.3% 170
2021 +11.9% 190
2022 +13.6% 216
2023 +7.3% 231
2024 +3.6% 240

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 592 business establishments in ZIP 68502, employing approximately 7,003 people with a combined annual payroll of $377,281,000.

592

Businesses

7,003

Employees

$377.3M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 106 17.9%
Retail trade 73 12.3%
Other services (except public administration) 70 11.8%
Health care and social assistance 64 10.8%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 60 10.1%
Accommodation and food services 40 6.8%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 37 6.3%
Finance and insurance 34 5.7%
Real estate and rental and leasing 30 5.1%
Transportation and warehousing 15 2.5%
Manufacturing 14 2.4%
Wholesale trade 13 2.2%
Educational services 13 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 11 1.9%
Information 8 1.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 68502 vs 68508 →

ZIP 68502 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 68502 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 68502 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 68502 ranks #6 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
68508 Lincoln, NE 14,475 2.3 mi
68512 Lincoln, NE 11,659 3.3 mi
68506 Lincoln, NE 27,952 3.1 mi
68503 Lincoln, NE 15,264 3.0 mi
68522 Lincoln, NE 12,728 3.3 mi
68510 Lincoln, NE 20,514 3.6 mi
68521 Lincoln, NE 31,733 5.6 mi
68516 Lincoln, NE 38,956 4.6 mi
68504 Lincoln, NE 16,444 5.2 mi
68523 Lincoln, NE 1,390 4.6 mi

More ZIP Codes in Lancaster County

68516 standard
Lincoln, NE
Pop: 38,956
68521 standard
Lincoln, NE
Pop: 31,733
68506 standard
Lincoln, NE
Pop: 27,952
68510 standard
Lincoln, NE
Pop: 20,514
68504 standard
Lincoln, NE
Pop: 16,444
68503 standard
Lincoln, NE
Pop: 15,264

Related Areas

Lancaster County Lincoln, NE Nebraska

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 68502 in? ▼
ZIP code 68502 (Lincoln) is located in Lancaster County, Nebraska. Lancaster County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/lancaster-ne.
What is the population of ZIP code 68502? ▼
ZIP code 68502 in Lincoln, NE has a population of 26,238 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 68502? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 68502 is $68,523, which is 10% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 68502? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 68502 is $227,300, which is 18% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 68502? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 68502 is White at 72.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 10.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 68502? ▼
ZIP code 68502 has 592 business establishments employing approximately 7,003 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 68502? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 68502 are: Construction (106), Retail trade (73), Other services (except public administration) (70). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 68502? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 68502 increased by 3.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 140%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 68502? ▼
In ZIP code 68502, 60.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 39.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 68502? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 68502 is 17.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 68502? ▼
In ZIP code 68502, approximately 55.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 44.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 68502? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 68502 is 13.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.