Lincoln, NE · standard
ZIP Code 68516
Lancaster County, Nebraska - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 38,956
- 790/sq mi High-density area
- $100,821
- Median income Above-median income area
- $354,000
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 54.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Lincoln pairs an upper-quartile household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 19%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 26%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 790
- people per sq mi
- 68%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 68516 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 68516 (Lincoln, NE) rose +3.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 219.0 in 2023 to 226.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 68516 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, with 38,956 residents across 49.3 square miles, a density of 790 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 68516 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $100,821 (32% above the average Nebraska ZIP), while per-capita income is $49,541. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 6.7% and unemployment is 2.3%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $354,000 (89% above the average Nebraska ZIP), while 68.3% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,261.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 54.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.5, and the average commute is 19 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Lancaster County, so 68516 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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 68516
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Lincoln, NE
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 68516.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
235 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
171 establishments
- Construction
Construction
160 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
150 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
148 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 68516, 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
38,956
Population
49.3
Area (sq mi)
790
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 68516?
37.5
Median Age
49.3%
Male
50.7%
Female
6.7%
Foreign-Born
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?
$100,821
Median Household Income
+32% vs state ZIP avg
$49,541
Per Capita Income
6.7%
Poverty Rate
2.3%
Unemployment Rate
18.7 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 68516 ranks nationally
Lincoln, NE household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$100,821 Top 19% higher than 81% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
20,066housing units
20,066
Total Housing Units
19,528
Occupied Units
538
Vacant Units
2.49
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$354,000
Median Home Value
+89% vs state ZIP avg
$1,261
Median Rent
1996
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
+3.2%
YoY Change (2024)
226
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+126%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 68516 have increased 3.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +126% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.7% | 158 |
| 2021 | +9.5% | 173 |
| 2022 | +15.8% | 201 |
| 2023 | +9.2% | 219 |
| 2024 | +3.2% | 226 |
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 1,464 business establishments in ZIP 68516, employing approximately 17,957 people with a combined annual payroll of $793,163,000.
1,464
Businesses
17,957
Employees
$793.2M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 235 | 16.1% |
| Retail trade | 171 | 11.7% |
| Construction | 160 | 10.9% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 150 | 10.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 148 | 10.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 141 | 9.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 120 | 8.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 108 | 7.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 77 | 5.3% |
| Educational services | 32 | 2.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 28 | 1.9% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 28 | 1.9% |
| Information | 18 | 1.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 18 | 1.2% |
| Manufacturing | 17 | 1.2% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 8 | 0.6% |
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 68516 vs 68506 →
ZIP 68516 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 68516
Lincoln (68516)
38,956 residents
- 68506
Lincoln (68506)
27,952 residents
- 68502
Lincoln (68502)
26,238 residents
- 68510
Lincoln (68510)
20,514 residents
- 68504
Lincoln (68504)
16,444 residents
- 68503 15,264
Lincoln (68503)
15,264 residents
- 68505 15,137
Lincoln (68505)
15,137 residents
- 68512 11,659
Lincoln (68512)
11,659 residents
- 68526 4,800
Lincoln (68526)
4,800 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 68516 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 68516 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 68430
Roca (68430)
$145,729 median income
- 68523
Lincoln (68523)
$141,786 median income
- 68526
Lincoln (68526)
$113,910 median income
- 68512
Lincoln (68512)
$104,448 median income
- 68516
Lincoln (68516)
$100,821 median income
- 68505
Lincoln (68505)
$75,980 median income
- 68506
Lincoln (68506)
$72,637 median income
- 68502
Lincoln (68502)
$68,523 median income
- 68510
Lincoln (68510)
$65,951 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 68516 ranks #5 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 68506 | Lincoln, NE | 27,952 | 3.4 mi |
| 68526 | Lincoln, NE | 4,800 | 3.1 mi |
| 68512 | Lincoln, NE | 11,659 | 3.4 mi |
| 68510 | Lincoln, NE | 20,514 | 5.0 mi |
| 68430 | Roca, NE | 1,402 | 4.7 mi |
| 68502 | Lincoln, NE | 26,238 | 4.6 mi |
| 68505 | Lincoln, NE | 15,137 | 6.3 mi |
| 68523 | Lincoln, NE | 1,390 | 6.1 mi |
| 68503 | Lincoln, NE | 15,264 | 6.4 mi |
| 68504 | Lincoln, NE | 16,444 | 8.3 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 68516, both outside NE so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (38,956 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Lancaster County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 68516 in?
ZIP code 68516 (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 68516?
ZIP code 68516 in Lincoln, NE has a population of 38,956 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 68516?
The median household income in ZIP 68516 is $100,821, which is 32% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 68516?
The median home value in ZIP 68516 is $354,000, which is 27% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 68516?
The largest racial group in ZIP 68516 is White at 86.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 68516?
ZIP code 68516 has 1,464 business establishments employing approximately 17,957 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 68516?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 68516 are: Health care and social assistance (235), Retail trade (171), Construction (160). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 68516?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 68516 increased by 3.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 126%. 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 68516?
In ZIP code 68516, 69.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 54.7% 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 68516?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 68516 is 18.7 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 68516?
In ZIP code 68516, approximately 68.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 31.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 68516?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 68516 is 6.7% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 68516's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 68516 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Lincoln, NE ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.