ZIP Code 68856

ZIP code 68856 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 291.0 square miles in Merna, Custer County, Nebraska. The area is home to 611 residents, producing a population density of 2 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 68856 against Nebraska and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 68856 sits at $73,000 (5% below the Nebraska average), while per-capita income is $37,384. The poverty rate stands at 11.2% and the unemployment rate at 0.8%. On housing, the median home value is $190,000 (2% above the state average) with median rent at $983 per month, and 77.9% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 68856 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 23.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.2, and the average commute is —. Use the benchmarks above to see where 68856 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 →