Residential delivery area · Nebraska
ZIP Code 68836: Elm Creek, NE
ZIP code 68836 uses the postal name Elm Creek, Nebraska and lies mostly in Buffalo County (53% of its land), reaching into Phelps County and Dawson County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 1,900 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $86,806 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, under 1% of its land lies in Elm Creek; more than 99% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2024
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Elm Creek · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Buffalo County (53%); Phelps County (33%); Dawson County (15%)
- Census places
- Elm Creek
- Micro area
- Kearney, NE
- House district
- NE-3 119th Congress
- State
- Nebraska
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 146.9 sq mi · 13 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 68836?
68836 centers on 40.705°, -99.377° and covers 146.9 square miles of land plus 2.8 of water. It borders 8 ZIP codes: 68861, 68863, 68845, 68940, 68958, 68812, 68858, 68949.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 68836, 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 68836 compare with the rest of Buffalo County?
| Measure | 68836 | In Buffalo County | In NE |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 1,908 | 6th of 14 | 152nd of 586 |
| Median household income | $87k | 3rd of 8 | 61st of 219 |
| Median home value | $225k | 4th of 8 | 87th of 225 |
Its median household income is higher than in 70% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 20% 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 68836?
The 2020 Census counted 1,789 people in 68836; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 1,908. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 6.0% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 1,908±260 (90% margin)
- 2020 Census count
- 1,789+6.0% since 2010 (1,688)
- Households
- 673
- Median age
- 33.0
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 68836?
Of the 1,908 people the ACS estimates in 68836, 29.0% are under 18 and 14.6% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (90.0%).
- Under 1829.0%
- 18 to 6456.4%
- 65 and older14.6%
- White, not Hispanic90.0%
- Hispanic or Latino7.1%
- Other or two or more2.1%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.7%
- Black, 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 68836 earn?
Median household income is $86,806 (ACS 2020-2024), the 3rd highest of the 8 ranked ZIP codes in Buffalo County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($79,979 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $86,806±$11,697
- Income per person
- $37,691
- Below the poverty line
- 8.7%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 0.0%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 27.8%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $88,583780 returns; wages 60% 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 68836?
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $224,800
- Median gross rent
- $805
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 76.2%
- Housing units
- 751
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 68836?
59 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 1 fewer than in 2018; the most are in finance and insurance (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Finance and insurance9
- Construction8
- Transportation and warehousing8
- Retail trade7
- Other services (except public administration)6
- Wholesale trade3
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 68836?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68861 | Odessa | 138 | $40k | 6.0 mi |
| 68863 | Overton | 1,410 | $101k | 9.1 mi |
| 68845 | Kearney | 20,536 | $77k | 10.8 mi |
| 68940 | Funk | 518 | $108k | 13.3 mi |
| 68958 | Loomis | 613 | $73k | 13.9 mi |
| 68812 | Amherst | 642 | $70k | 15.0 mi |
| 68858 | Miller | 328 | $82k | 18.0 mi |
| 68949 | Holdrege | 6,662 | $63k | 18.8 mi |
| 68849 | Kearney | 1,385 | – | 14.5 mi (near) |
| 68870 | Riverdale | 506 | $87k | 15.0 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.