PlainZIP

Gothenburg, NE · standard

ZIP Code 69138

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

4,489
5/sq mi
$77,604
Median income
$199,300
Median home value
25.8%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

Top 41%
household income, US ZIPs
43th pct
home value, US ZIPs
5
people per sq mi
74%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 69138 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 69138 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 880.2 square miles in Gothenburg, Dawson County, Nebraska. The area is home to 4,489 residents, producing a population density of 5 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 69138 against Nebraska and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 69138 sits at $77,604 (1% above the Nebraska average), while per-capita income is $48,075. The poverty rate stands at 8.8% and the unemployment rate at 2.4%. On housing, the median home value is $199,300 (7% above the state average) with median rent at $921 per month, and 74.3% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 69138 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 25.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.2, and the average commute is 16 minutes. We also surface 1 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Dawson County, so you can benchmark 69138 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 69138

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 69138.

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 69138, Gothenburg, 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

4,489

Population

880.2

Area (sq mi)

5

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 69138?

42.2

Median Age

51.4%

Male

48.6%

Female

3.2%

Foreign-Born

White 91.2%
African American 0.3%
Asian 0.8%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.5%
Hispanic or Latino 6.0%

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?

$77,604

Median Household Income

+1% vs state

$48,075

Per Capita Income

8.8%

Poverty Rate

2.4%

Unemployment Rate

15.7 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 69138 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$77,604 Top 41% higher than 59% 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 60.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 25.8%

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

What does housing look like?

1,977

Total Housing Units

1,772

Occupied Units

205

Vacant Units

2.41

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 74.3%
Renter 25.7%

$199,300

Median Home Value

+7% vs state

$921

Median Rent

1964

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

+9.3%

YoY Change (2024)

251

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+151%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 69138 have increased 9.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +151% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +0.9% 176
2021 +8.7% 191
2022 +8.0% 207
2023 +11.1% 230
2024 +9.3% 251

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 179 business establishments in ZIP 69138, employing approximately 1,591 people with a combined annual payroll of $77,549,000.

179

Businesses

1,591

Employees

$77.5M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Professional, scientific, and technical services 24 13.4%
Retail trade 23 12.8%
Health care and social assistance 23 12.8%
Other services (except public administration) 21 11.7%
Wholesale trade 17 9.5%
Accommodation and food services 17 9.5%
Construction 14 7.8%
Transportation and warehousing 10 5.6%
Finance and insurance 7 3.9%
Manufacturing 5 2.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 3 1.7%
Information 3 1.7%
Educational services 3 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 3 1.7%

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 69138 vs 69171 →

ZIP Code City Population Distance
69171 Willow Island, NE 26 9.2 mi

More ZIP Codes in Dawson County

68850 standard
Lexington, NE
Pop: 12,295
69130 standard
Cozad, NE
Pop: 5,307
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 Gothenburg, NE Nebraska

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 69138 in? ▼
ZIP code 69138 (Gothenburg) 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 69138? ▼
ZIP code 69138 in Gothenburg, NE has a population of 4,489 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 69138? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 69138 is $77,604, which is 2% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 69138? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 69138 is $199,300, which is 28% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 69138? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 69138 is White at 91.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 69138? ▼
ZIP code 69138 has 179 business establishments employing approximately 1,591 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 69138? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 69138 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (24), Retail trade (23), Health care and social assistance (23). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 69138? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 69138 increased by 9.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 151%. 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 69138? ▼
In ZIP code 69138, 60.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 25.8% 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 69138? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 69138 is 15.7 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 69138? ▼
In ZIP code 69138, approximately 74.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 25.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 69138? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 69138 is 8.8% 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 Gothenburg, 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.