Residential delivery area · Nebraska
ZIP Code 68826: Central City, NE
ZIP code 68826 uses the postal name Central City, Nebraska and lies entirely in Merrick County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 3,900 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $74,583 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 2% of its land lies in Central City; 98% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Central City · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Merrick County
- Census places
- Central City
- Metro area
- Grand Island, NE
- House district
- NE-3 119th Congress
- State
- Nebraska
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 144.3 sq mi · 27 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 68826?
68826 centers on 41.164°, -98.016° and covers 144.3 square miles of land plus 2.2 of water. It borders 7 ZIP codes: 68816, 68628, 68846, 68854, 68827, 68864, 68638.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 68826, 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 68826 compare with the rest of Merrick County?
| Measure | 68826 | In Merrick County | In NE |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 3,944 | 2nd of 9 | 99th of 586 |
| Median household income | $75k | 1st of 3 | 109th of 219 |
| Median home value | $172k | 2nd of 3 | 144th of 225 |
Its median household income is higher than in 54% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 31% 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 68826?
The 2020 Census counted 4,044 people in 68826; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 3,944. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 2.3% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 3,944
- 2020 Census count
- 4,044+2.3% since 2010 (3,955)
- Households
- 1,593
- Median age
- 41.0
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 68826?
Of the 3,944 people the ACS estimates in 68826, 23.6% are under 18 and 20.1% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (88.5%).
- Under 1823.6%
- 18 to 6456.2%
- 65 and older20.1%
- White, not Hispanic88.5%
- Other or two or more5.1%
- Hispanic or Latino5.0%
- Asian, not Hispanic1.4%
- Black, not Hispanic0.0%
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 68826 earn?
Median household income is $74,583 (ACS 2020-2024), the highest of the 3 ranked ZIP codes in Merrick County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($69,552 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $74,583±$12,041
- Income per person
- $39,169
- Below the poverty line
- 4.6%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 0.0%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 21.2%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $85,8591,810 returns; wages 56% 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 68826?
FHFA's house price index for 68826, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 102% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 66% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +11.0% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $172,100
- Median gross rent
- $678
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 77.0%
- Housing units
- 1,714
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 68826?
138 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, the same count as in 2018; the most are in other services (except public administration) (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Other services (except public administration)23
- Retail trade19
- Construction15
- Health care and social assistance13
- Wholesale trade10
- Manufacturing9
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 68826?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68816 | Archer | 137 | $62k | 6.2 mi |
| 68628 | Clarks | 848 | $58k | 9.7 mi |
| 68846 | Hordville | 283 | $68k | 9.8 mi |
| 68854 | Marquette | 708 | $92k | 10.6 mi |
| 68827 | Chapman | 761 | $89k | 12.0 mi |
| 68864 | Palmer | 958 | $83k | 13.2 mi |
| 68638 | Fullerton | 1,664 | $57k | 14.8 mi |
| 68654 | Polk | 569 | $65k | 14.0 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.