PlainZIP

Saint Paul, NE · standard

ZIP Code 68873

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

3,289
7/sq mi
$75,000
Median income
$214,800
Median home value
28.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Saint Paul pairs an above-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 45%
household income, US ZIPs
48th pct
home value, US ZIPs
7
people per sq mi
77%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 68873 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 68873 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 456.8 square miles in Saint Paul, Howard County, Nebraska. The area is home to 3,289 residents, producing a population density of 7 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 68873 against Nebraska and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 68873 sits at $75,000 (2% below the Nebraska average), while per-capita income is $36,297. The poverty rate stands at 3.1% and the unemployment rate at 4.4%. On housing, the median home value is $214,800 (15% above the state average) with median rent at $716 per month, and 76.7% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 68873 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 28.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.7, and the average commute is 26 minutes. We also surface 1 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 5 additional ZIPs sharing Howard County, so you can benchmark 68873 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. 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 68873

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 68873.

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 68873, Saint Paul, 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

3,289

Population

456.8

Area (sq mi)

7

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 68873?

42.7

Median Age

50.6%

Male

49.4%

Female

2.6%

Foreign-Born

White 89.1%
African American 1.1%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.6%
Hispanic or Latino 3.3%

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?

$75,000

Median Household Income

-2% vs state

$36,297

Per Capita Income

3.1%

Poverty Rate

4.4%

Unemployment Rate

25.6 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 68873 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$75,000 Top 45% higher than 55% 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 61.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 28.1%

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

What does housing look like?

1,493

Total Housing Units

1,354

Occupied Units

139

Vacant Units

2.74

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 76.7%
Renter 23.3%

$214,800

Median Home Value

+15% vs state

$716

Median Rent

1971

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

+5.0%

YoY Change (2023)

236

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+136%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 68873 have increased 5.0% over the past year (2023). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +136% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2019 +7.4% 178
2020 +5.2% 187
2021 +3.7% 194
2022 +15.9% 225
2023 +5.0% 236

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 2023. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 111 business establishments in ZIP 68873, employing approximately 865 people with a combined annual payroll of $37,161,000.

111

Businesses

865

Employees

$37.2M

Annual Payroll

11

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 19 17.1%
Other services (except public administration) 14 12.6%
Health care and social assistance 12 10.8%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 11 9.9%
Finance and insurance 10 9.0%
Wholesale trade 9 8.1%
Construction 8 7.2%
Accommodation and food services 8 7.2%
Transportation and warehousing 5 4.5%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 5 4.5%
Manufacturing 4 3.6%

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

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 68873 vs 68831 →

ZIP Code City Population Distance
68831 Dannebrog, NE 812 10.7 mi

More ZIP Codes in Howard County

68872 standard
Saint Libory, NE
Pop: 853
68831 standard
Dannebrog, NE
Pop: 812
68835 standard
Elba, NE
Pop: 485
68820 standard
Boelus, NE
Pop: 391
68838 standard
Farwell, NE
Pop: 301

Related Areas

Howard County Saint Paul, NE Nebraska

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 68873 in? ▼
ZIP code 68873 (Saint Paul) is located in Howard County, Nebraska. Howard County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/howard-ne.
What is the population of ZIP code 68873? ▼
ZIP code 68873 in Saint Paul, NE has a population of 3,289 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 68873? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 68873 is $75,000, which is 2% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 68873? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 68873 is $214,800, which is 23% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 68873? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 68873 is White at 89.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 68873? ▼
ZIP code 68873 has 111 business establishments employing approximately 865 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 68873? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 68873 are: Retail trade (19), Other services (except public administration) (14), Health care and social assistance (12). There are 11 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 68873? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 68873 increased by 5.0% in 2023. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 136%. 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 68873? ▼
In ZIP code 68873, 61.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 28.1% 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 68873? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 68873 is 25.6 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 68873? ▼
In ZIP code 68873, approximately 76.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 23.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 68873? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 68873 is 3.1% 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 Saint Paul, 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.