Nelson, NE · standard
ZIP Code 68961
Nuckolls County, Nebraska - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 732
- 2/sq mi Low-density area
- $55,673
- Median income Below-median income area
- $76,900
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 28.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Nelson pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 22nd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 4th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 2
- people per sq mi
- 81%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 68961 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 68961 is a sparsely populated ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Nelson, Nuckolls County, Nebraska, home to just 732 residents across 332.7 square miles, a density of 2 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 68961 reports a modest median household income of $55,673 (27% below the average Nebraska ZIP), while per-capita income is $48,467. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 7.0% and unemployment is 0.0%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $76,900 (59% below the average Nebraska ZIP), and median rent is $497; owner occupancy is 81.3%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 28.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 61.9, and the average commute is -. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 5 more in Nuckolls County, so 68961 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 68961
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Nelson, NE
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 68961.
- Construction
Construction
3 establishments
- Transportation and warehousing
Transportation and warehousing
3 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
3 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 68961, Nelson, 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
732
Population
332.7
Area (sq mi)
2
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 68961?
61.9
Median Age
48.0%
Male
52.0%
Female
1.6%
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?
$55,673
Median Household Income
-27% vs state ZIP avg
$48,467
Per Capita Income
7.0%
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 68961 ranks among Nebraska ZIPs
Nelson, 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)
$55,673 13th percentile higher than 13% 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
446housing units
446
Total Housing Units
391
Occupied Units
55
Vacant Units
1.61
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$76,900
Median Home Value
-59% vs state ZIP avg
$497
Median Rent
1942
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 20 business establishments in ZIP 68961, employing approximately 68 people with a combined annual payroll of $2,486,000.
20
Businesses
68
Employees
$2.5M
Annual Payroll
3
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 3 | 15.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3 | 15.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 3 | 15.0% |
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 68961 vs 68964 →
ZIP 68961 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 68978
Superior (68978)
2,377 residents
- 68961 732
Nelson (68961)
732 residents
- 68934 188
Deweese (68934)
188 residents
- 68964 135
Oak (68964)
135 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 68961 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 68961 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 68964
Oak (68964)
$85,000 median income
- 68978
Superior (68978)
$65,764 median income
- 68961
Nelson (68961)
$55,673 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 68961 ranks #3 of 3 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 68961, both outside NE so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Nuckolls County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 68961 in?
ZIP code 68961 (Nelson) is located in Nuckolls County, Nebraska. Nuckolls County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/nuckolls-ne.
What is the population of ZIP code 68961?
ZIP code 68961 in Nelson, NE has a population of 732 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 68961?
The median household income in ZIP 68961 is $55,673, which is 27% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 68961?
The median home value in ZIP 68961 is $76,900, which is 72% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 68961?
The largest racial group in ZIP 68961 is White at 90.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 11.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 68961?
ZIP code 68961 has 20 business establishments employing approximately 68 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 68961?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 68961 are: Construction (3), Transportation and warehousing (3), Other services (except public administration) (3). There are 3 industry sectors represented in total.
What is the education level in ZIP code 68961?
In ZIP code 68961, 62.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 28.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 68961?
In ZIP code 68961, approximately 81.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 18.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 68961?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 68961 is 7.0% 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 68961's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 68961 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Nelson, NE ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.