PlainZIP

Columbus, NE · standard

ZIP Code 68601

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

28,185
38/sq mi
$68,480
Median income
$221,900
Median home value
22.4%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Columbus pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

44th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 50%
home value, US ZIPs
38
people per sq mi
69%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 68601 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 68601 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 747.6 square miles in Columbus, Platte County, Nebraska. The area is home to 28,185 residents, producing a population density of 38 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 68601 against Nebraska and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 68601 sits at $68,480 (11% below the Nebraska average), while per-capita income is $36,313. The poverty rate stands at 10.5% and the unemployment rate at 2.1%. On housing, the median home value is $221,900 (19% above the state average) with median rent at $897 per month, and 69.3% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 68601 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 22.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.9, and the average commute is 16 minutes. We also surface 2 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Platte County, so you can benchmark 68601 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 68601

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 68601.

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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 68601, Columbus, NE · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

28,185

Population

747.6

Area (sq mi)

38

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 68601?

37.9

Median Age

50.4%

Male

49.6%

Female

13.9%

Foreign-Born

White 72.4%
African American 0.8%
Asian 0.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.9%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
Two or More Ethnicities 19.5%
Hispanic or Latino 27.0%

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?

$68,480

Median Household Income

-11% vs state

$36,313

Per Capita Income

10.5%

Poverty Rate

2.1%

Unemployment Rate

15.7 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 68601 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$68,480 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 55.3%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 22.4%

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

What does housing look like?

12,992

Total Housing Units

12,223

Occupied Units

769

Vacant Units

2.50

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 69.3%
Renter 30.7%

$221,900

Median Home Value

+19% vs state

$897

Median Rent

1974

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

+6.3%

YoY Change (2024)

264

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+164%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 68601 have increased 6.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +164% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +4.2% 185
2021 +8.8% 202
2022 +15.0% 232
2023 +6.9% 248
2024 +6.3% 264

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 872 business establishments in ZIP 68601, employing approximately 14,051 people with a combined annual payroll of $710,960,000.

872

Businesses

14,051

Employees

$711.0M

Annual Payroll

17

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 133 15.3%
Construction 92 10.6%
Other services (except public administration) 91 10.4%
Health care and social assistance 89 10.2%
Accommodation and food services 76 8.7%
Finance and insurance 72 8.3%
Manufacturing 54 6.2%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 51 5.8%
Real estate and rental and leasing 46 5.3%
Transportation and warehousing 42 4.8%
Wholesale trade 41 4.7%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 39 4.5%
Information 14 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 14 1.6%
Educational services 10 1.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 3 0.3%
Management of companies and enterprises 3 0.3%

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 68601 vs 68634 →

ZIP 68601 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 68601 ranks the most populous — useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 68601 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 68601 ranks #3 of 3 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
68634 Duncan, NE 345 6.4 mi
68653 Platte Center, NE 783 8.3 mi

More ZIP Codes in Platte County

68642 standard
Humphrey, NE
Pop: 1,721
68653 standard
Platte Center, NE
Pop: 783
68644 standard
Lindsay, NE
Pop: 721
68647 standard
Monroe, NE
Pop: 646
68631 standard
Creston, NE
Pop: 480
68634 standard
Duncan, NE
Pop: 345

Related Areas

Platte County Columbus, NE Nebraska

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 68601 in? ▼
ZIP code 68601 (Columbus) is located in Platte County, Nebraska. Platte County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/platte-ne.
What is the population of ZIP code 68601? ▼
ZIP code 68601 in Columbus, NE has a population of 28,185 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 68601? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 68601 is $68,480, which is 10% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 68601? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 68601 is $221,900, which is 20% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 68601? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 68601 is White at 72.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 27.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 68601? ▼
ZIP code 68601 has 872 business establishments employing approximately 14,051 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 68601? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 68601 are: Retail trade (133), Construction (92), Other services (except public administration) (91). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 68601? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 68601 increased by 6.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 164%. 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 68601? ▼
In ZIP code 68601, 55.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 22.4% 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 68601? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 68601 is 15.7 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 68601? ▼
In ZIP code 68601, approximately 69.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 30.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 68601? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 68601 is 10.5% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Columbus, NE

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

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