Residential delivery area · Nebraska
ZIP Code 68845: Kearney, NE
ZIP code 68845 uses the postal name Kearney, Nebraska and lies mostly in Buffalo County (79% of its land), reaching into Kearney County and Phelps County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 21,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the most populous of Kearney's 3 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $76,978 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Kearney (5%) and Odessa (under 1%), and under 1% in smaller places; 93% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Kearney · 3 residential ZIPs
- County
- Buffalo County (79%); Kearney County (12%); Phelps County (9%)
- Census places
- Kearney (5%); Odessa (under 1%) census-designated place
- Micro area
- Kearney, NE
- House district
- NE-3 119th Congress
- State
- Nebraska
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 123.7 sq mi · 166 people per sq mi
- PO Box ZIPs
- 68848 also use the name Kearney
Where is ZIP code 68845?
68845 centers on 40.718°, -99.171° and covers 123.7 square miles of land plus 1.1 of water. It borders 8 ZIP codes: 68849, 68861, 68847, 68870, 68836, 68940, 68812, 68924.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 68845, 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 68845 compare with the rest of Kearney?
| Measure | 68845 | In Kearney | In Buffalo County | In NE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 20,536 | 1st of 3 | 1st of 14 | 30th of 586 |
| Median household income | $77k | 1st of 2 | 5th of 8 | 96th of 219 |
| Median home value | $282k | 1st of 2 | 1st of 8 | 44th of 225 |
Its median household income is higher than in 58% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 60% 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 68845?
The 2020 Census counted 20,304 people in 68845; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 20,536. Its boundary changed between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, so the two counts are not compared.
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 20,536
- 2020 Census count
- 20,304
- Households
- 8,561
- Median age
- 34.7
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 68845?
Of the 20,536 people the ACS estimates in 68845, 20.7% are under 18 and 17.4% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (84.4%).
- Under 1820.7%
- 18 to 6461.9%
- 65 and older17.4%
- White, not Hispanic84.4%
- Hispanic or Latino9.2%
- Other or two or more3.9%
- Black, not Hispanic1.3%
- Asian, not Hispanic1.2%
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 68845 earn?
Median household income is $76,978 (ACS 2020-2024), the 5th highest of the 8 ranked ZIP codes in Buffalo County.
- Median household income
- $76,978
- Income per person
- $42,181
- Below the poverty line
- 9.2%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 2.3%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 41.2%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $101,6179,530 returns; wages 59% 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 68845?
FHFA's house price index for 68845, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 58% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 39% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +2.1% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $282,000
- Median gross rent
- $931
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 59.2%
- Housing units
- 9,006
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 68845?
485 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 62 more than in 2018; the most are in health care and social assistance (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Health care and social assistance91
- Construction75
- Other services (except public administration)44
- Accommodation and food services42
- Professional, scientific, and technical services39
- Retail trade38
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 68845?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68849 | Kearney | 1,385 | – | 3.8 mi |
| 68861 | Odessa | 138 | $40k | 5.0 mi |
| 68847 | Kearney | 18,354 | $74k | 8.0 mi |
| 68870 | Riverdale | 506 | $87k | 8.8 mi |
| 68836 | Elm Creek | 1,908 | $87k | 10.8 mi |
| 68940 | Funk | 518 | $108k | 13.1 mi |
| 68812 | Amherst | 642 | $70k | 14.4 mi |
| 68924 | Axtell | 1,348 | $85k | 15.6 mi |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.