PlainZIP

Lexington, NE · standard

ZIP Code 68850

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

12,295
18/sq mi
$69,238
Median income
$161,400
Median home value
14.9%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Lexington pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, mixed-tenure area.

45th pct
household income, US ZIPs
30th pct
home value, US ZIPs
18
people per sq mi
60%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 68850 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 68850 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 675.5 square miles in Lexington, Dawson County, Nebraska. The area is home to 12,295 residents, producing a population density of 18 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 68850 against Nebraska and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 68850 sits at $69,238 (10% below the Nebraska average), while per-capita income is $27,321. The poverty rate stands at 12.5% and the unemployment rate at 1.8%. On housing, the median home value is $161,400 (14% below the state average) with median rent at $963 per month, and 59.5% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 68850 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 14.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 32, and the average commute is 17 minutes. Use the benchmarks above to see where 68850 sits relative to Nebraska and the national baseline rather than viewing the numbers in isolation. 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 68850

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 68850.

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 68850, Lexington, 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

12,295

Population

675.5

Area (sq mi)

18

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 68850?

32.0

Median Age

52.7%

Male

47.3%

Female

38.4%

Foreign-Born

White 31.8%
African American 13.6%
Asian 1.1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.9%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.3%
Two or More Ethnicities 21.6%
Hispanic or Latino 60.6%

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?

$69,238

Median Household Income

-10% vs state

$27,321

Per Capita Income

12.5%

Poverty Rate

1.8%

Unemployment Rate

16.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 68850 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$69,238 45th percentile higher than 45% 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 41.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 14.9%

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

What does housing look like?

4,312

Total Housing Units

4,104

Occupied Units

208

Vacant Units

3.00

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 59.5%
Renter 40.5%

$161,400

Median Home Value

-14% vs state

$963

Median Rent

1973

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

+5.8%

YoY Change (2024)

282

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+182%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 68850 have increased 5.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +182% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +7.3% 189
2021 +8.1% 204
2022 +16.4% 237
2023 +12.3% 267
2024 +5.8% 282

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 278 business establishments in ZIP 68850, employing approximately 6,114 people with a combined annual payroll of $297,754,000.

278

Businesses

6,114

Employees

$297.8M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 49 17.6%
Accommodation and food services 35 12.6%
Other services (except public administration) 32 11.5%
Health care and social assistance 27 9.7%
Construction 23 8.3%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 18 6.5%
Wholesale trade 17 6.1%
Finance and insurance 17 6.1%
Transportation and warehousing 16 5.8%
Manufacturing 12 4.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 11 4.0%
Real estate and rental and leasing 7 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 6 2.2%
Information 4 1.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

More ZIP Codes in Dawson County

69130 standard
Cozad, NE
Pop: 5,307
69138 standard
Gothenburg, NE
Pop: 4,489
68863 standard
Overton, NE
Pop: 1,151
68878 standard
Sumner, NE
Pop: 446
69029 standard
Farnam, NE
Pop: 316
68834 standard
Eddyville, NE
Pop: 226

Related Areas

Dawson County Lexington, NE Nebraska

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 68850 in? ▼
ZIP code 68850 (Lexington) is located in Dawson County, Nebraska. Dawson County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/dawson-ne.
What is the population of ZIP code 68850? ▼
ZIP code 68850 in Lexington, NE has a population of 12,295 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 68850? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 68850 is $69,238, which is 9% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 68850? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 68850 is $161,400, which is 42% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 68850? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 68850 is White at 31.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 60.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 68850? ▼
ZIP code 68850 has 278 business establishments employing approximately 6,114 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 68850? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 68850 are: Retail trade (49), Accommodation and food services (35), Other services (except public administration) (32). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 68850? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 68850 increased by 5.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 182%. 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 68850? ▼
In ZIP code 68850, 41.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 14.9% 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 68850? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 68850 is 16.9 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 68850? ▼
In ZIP code 68850, approximately 59.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 40.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 68850? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 68850 is 12.5% 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 Lexington, 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.