Residential delivery area · Nebraska
ZIP Code 68601: Columbus, NE
ZIP code 68601 uses the postal name Columbus, Nebraska and lies mostly in Platte County (74% of its land), reaching into Colfax County, Polk County and Butler County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 31,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $68,480 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Columbus (4%), Lakeview (under 1%) and Richland (under 1%); 96% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Columbus · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Platte County (74%); Colfax County (13%); Polk County (11%); Butler County (2%)
- Census places
- Columbus (4%); Lakeview (under 1%) census-designated place; Richland (under 1%)
- Micro area
- Columbus, NE
- House district
- NE-1 119th Congress
- State
- Nebraska
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 287.7 sq mi · 108 people per sq mi
- PO Box ZIPs
- 68602 also use the name Columbus
Where is ZIP code 68601?
68601 centers on 41.452°, -97.395° and covers 287.7 square miles of land plus 10.8 of water. It borders 12 ZIP codes: 68634, 68653, 68624, 68647, 68661, 68631, 68662, 68642, 68651, 68663 and more.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 68601, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 68601 compare with the rest of Platte County?
| Measure | 68601 | In Platte County | In NE |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 30,944 | 1st of 11 | 11th of 586 |
| Median household income | $69k | 3rd of 4 | 139th of 219 |
| Median home value | $222k | 2nd of 3 | 90th of 225 |
Its median household income is higher than in 44% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 55% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 68601?
The 2020 Census counted 30,189 people in 68601; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 30,944. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 7.1% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 30,944
- 2020 Census count
- 30,189+7.1% since 2010 (28,185)
- Households
- 12,223
- Median age
- 37.9
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 68601?
Of the 30,944 people the ACS estimates in 68601, 26.2% are under 18 and 18.6% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (69.2%), then Hispanic or Latino (27.0%).
- Under 1826.2%
- 18 to 6455.3%
- 65 and older18.6%
- White, not Hispanic69.2%
- Hispanic or Latino27.0%
- Other or two or more2.8%
- Black, not Hispanic0.8%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 68601 earn?
Median household income is $68,480 (ACS 2020-2024), the 3rd highest of the 4 ranked ZIP codes in Platte County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($75,190 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $68,480
- Income per person
- $36,313
- Below the poverty line
- 10.5%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 2.1%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 22.4%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $73,99314,950 returns; wages 69% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 68601?
FHFA's house price index for 68601, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 92% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 46% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +3.6% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $221,900
- Median gross rent
- $897
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 69.3%
- Housing units
- 12,992
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 68601?
872 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 3 fewer than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade133
- Construction92
- Other services (except public administration)91
- Health care and social assistance89
- Accommodation and food services76
- Finance and insurance72
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 68601?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68634 | Duncan | 635 | $74k | 7.2 mi |
| 68653 | Platte Center | 748 | $100k | 9.3 mi |
| 68624 | Bellwood | 1,009 | $69k | 11.3 mi |
| 68647 | Monroe | 702 | $103k | 12.9 mi |
| 68661 | Schuyler | 7,459 | $83k | 16.1 mi |
| 68631 | Creston | 337 | $87k | 16.5 mi |
| 68662 | Shelby | 1,088 | $90k | 16.7 mi |
| 68642 | Humphrey | 1,628 | $94k | 17.5 mi |
| 68651 | Osceola | 1,364 | $79k | 18.0 mi |
| 68663 | Silver Creek | 782 | $57k | 18.6 mi |
| 68643 | Leigh | 1,019 | $77k | 18.8 mi |
| 68640 | Genoa | 1,212 | $68k | 19.3 mi |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.
Which other ZIP codes use the name Columbus?
1 more ZIP code carries the postal name Columbus, NE without a residential delivery area: PO boxes at the post office, or a single organization with its own ZIP code. The Census Bureau publishes no figures for it.
| ZIP | County |
|---|---|
| 68602 | Platte County |
Source: GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0), downloaded 2026-10-09; a ZIP code with no Census ZCTA has no residential delivery area.