PlainZIP

Central City, NE · standard

ZIP Code 68826

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

3,955
11/sq mi
$74,583
Median income
$172,100
Median home value
21.2%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

Top 46%
household income, US ZIPs
35th pct
home value, US ZIPs
11
people per sq mi
77%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 68826 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 68826 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 376.7 square miles in Central City, Merrick County, Nebraska. The area is home to 3,955 residents, producing a population density of 11 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 68826 against Nebraska and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 68826 sits at $74,583 (3% below the Nebraska average), while per-capita income is $39,169. The poverty rate stands at 4.6% and the unemployment rate at 0.0%. On housing, the median home value is $172,100 (8% below the state average) with median rent at $678 per month, and 77.0% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 68826 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 21.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41, and the average commute is 18 minutes. We also surface 2 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 3 additional ZIPs sharing Merrick County, so you can benchmark 68826 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 68826

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 68826.

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 68826, Central City, 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

3,955

Population

376.7

Area (sq mi)

11

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 68826?

41.0

Median Age

48.4%

Male

51.6%

Female

2.4%

Foreign-Born

White 89.1%
African American 0.0%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 8.2%
Hispanic or Latino 5.0%

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?

$74,583

Median Household Income

-3% vs state

$39,169

Per Capita Income

4.6%

Poverty Rate

0.0%

Unemployment Rate

18.3 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 68826 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$74,583 Top 46% higher than 54% 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 51.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 21.2%

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

What does housing look like?

1,714

Total Housing Units

1,593

Occupied Units

121

Vacant Units

2.39

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 77.0%
Renter 23.0%

$172,100

Median Home Value

-8% vs state

$678

Median Rent

1971

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

+10.2%

YoY Change (2024)

289

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+189%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 68826 have increased 10.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +189% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 -1.6% 192
2021 +15.3% 221
2022 +13.3% 251
2023 +4.5% 262
2024 +10.2% 289

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 138 business establishments in ZIP 68826, employing approximately 1,300 people with a combined annual payroll of $60,260,000.

138

Businesses

1,300

Employees

$60.3M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Other services (except public administration) 23 16.7%
Retail trade 19 13.8%
Construction 15 10.9%
Health care and social assistance 13 9.4%
Wholesale trade 10 7.3%
Manufacturing 9 6.5%
Finance and insurance 9 6.5%
Accommodation and food services 9 6.5%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 7 5.1%
Real estate and rental and leasing 6 4.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 5 3.6%
Information 4 2.9%
Transportation and warehousing 3 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 3 2.2%

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 68826 vs 68816 →

ZIP 68826 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 68826 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 68826 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 68826 ranks the highest 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
68816 Archer, NE 180 6.2 mi
68846 Hordville, NE 296 9.5 mi

More ZIP Codes in Merrick County

68628 standard
Clarks, NE
Pop: 826
68827 standard
Chapman, NE
Pop: 693
68816 standard
Archer, NE
Pop: 180

Related Areas

Merrick County Central City, NE Nebraska

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 68826 in? ▼
ZIP code 68826 (Central City) is located in Merrick County, Nebraska. Merrick County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/merrick-ne.
What is the population of ZIP code 68826? ▼
ZIP code 68826 in Central City, NE has a population of 3,955 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 68826? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 68826 is $74,583, which is 2% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 68826? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 68826 is $172,100, which is 38% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 68826? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 68826 is White at 89.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 68826? ▼
ZIP code 68826 has 138 business establishments employing approximately 1,300 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 68826? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 68826 are: Other services (except public administration) (23), Retail trade (19), Construction (15). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 68826? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 68826 increased by 10.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 189%. 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 68826? ▼
In ZIP code 68826, 51.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 21.2% 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 68826? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 68826 is 18.3 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 68826? ▼
In ZIP code 68826, approximately 77.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 23.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 68826? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 68826 is 4.6% 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 Central City, 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.