Minden, NE · standard
ZIP Code 68959
Kearney County, Nebraska - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 4,015
- 5/sq mi Low-density area
- $70,167
- Median income Near-median income area
- $221,400
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 33.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Minden pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 47th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 50%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 5
- people per sq mi
- 76%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 68959 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 68959 (Minden, NE) rose +21.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 208.5 in 2023 to 252.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 68959 covers 787.3 square miles in Minden, Kearney County, Nebraska (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 4,015 residents on file, a density of 5 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 68959 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $70,167 (8% below the average Nebraska ZIP), while per-capita income is $37,641. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 5.2% and unemployment is 2.0%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $221,400 (18% above the average Nebraska ZIP), while 75.8% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $832.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 33.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.7, and the average commute is 20 minutes. The page also surfaces 1 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 3 more in Kearney County, so 68959 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 68959
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Minden, NE
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 68959.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
20 establishments
- Construction
Construction
17 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
14 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
11 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
11 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 68959, Minden, NE · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
4,015
Population
787.3
Area (sq mi)
5
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 68959?
38.7
Median Age
48.7%
Male
51.3%
Female
1.2%
Foreign-Born
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?
$70,167
Median Household Income
-8% vs state ZIP avg
$37,641
Per Capita Income
5.2%
Poverty Rate
2.0%
Unemployment Rate
20.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 68959 ranks among Nebraska ZIPs
Minden, NE household income vs. every Nebraska ZIP code
Median household income among 556 reporting Nebraska ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$70,167 44th percentile higher than 44% of 556 Nebraska ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Nebraska 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
1,857housing units
1,857
Total Housing Units
1,730
Occupied Units
127
Vacant Units
2.30
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$221,400
Median Home Value
+18% vs state ZIP avg
$832
Median Rent
1960
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
+21.1%
YoY Change (2024)
252
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+152%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 68959 have increased 21.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +152% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.4% | 172 |
| 2021 | +10.0% | 189 |
| 2022 | +21.0% | 228 |
| 2023 | -8.7% | 208 |
| 2024 | +21.1% | 252 |
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 126 business establishments in ZIP 68959, employing approximately 1,266 people with a combined annual payroll of $57,325,000.
126
Businesses
1,266
Employees
$57.3M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 20 | 15.9% |
| Construction | 17 | 13.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 14 | 11.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 11 | 8.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 11 | 8.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 9 | 7.1% |
| Manufacturing | 8 | 6.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 8 | 6.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 6 | 4.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 6 | 4.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 5 | 4.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 3 | 2.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 3 | 2.4% |
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 68959 vs 68945 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 68945 | Heartwell, NE | 213 | 9.1 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 68959, both outside NE so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (4,015 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Kearney County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 68959 in?
ZIP code 68959 (Minden) is located in Kearney County, Nebraska. Kearney County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/kearney-ne.
What is the population of ZIP code 68959?
ZIP code 68959 in Minden, NE has a population of 4,015 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 68959?
The median household income in ZIP 68959 is $70,167, which is 8% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 68959?
The median home value in ZIP 68959 is $221,400, which is 20% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 68959?
The largest racial group in ZIP 68959 is White at 95.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 68959?
ZIP code 68959 has 126 business establishments employing approximately 1,266 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 68959?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 68959 are: Retail trade (20), Construction (17), Other services (except public administration) (14). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 68959?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 68959 increased by 21.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 152%. 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 68959?
In ZIP code 68959, 55.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 33.8% 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 68959?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 68959 is 20.4 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 68959?
In ZIP code 68959, approximately 75.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 24.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 68959?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 68959 is 5.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 68959's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 68959 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Minden, NE ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.