Residential delivery area · Nebraska
ZIP Code 69138: Gothenburg, NE
ZIP code 69138 uses the postal name Gothenburg, Nebraska and lies mostly in Dawson County (42% of its land), reaching into Custer County and Lincoln County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 4,300 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $77,604 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 1% of its land lies in Gothenburg; 99% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Gothenburg · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Dawson County (42%); Custer County (33%); Lincoln County (24%)
- Census places
- Gothenburg
- Micro area
- Lexington, NE
- House district
- NE-3 119th Congress
- State
- Nebraska
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 328.1 sq mi · 13 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 69138?
69138 centers on 40.996°, -100.177° and covers 328.1 square miles of land plus 0.3 of water. It borders 6 ZIP codes: 69171, 69123, 69130, 68825, 69029, 69120.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 69138, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 69138 compare with the rest of Dawson County?
| Measure | 69138 | In Dawson County | In NE |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 4,316 | 3rd of 12 | 94th of 586 |
| Median household income | $78k | 4th of 6 | 92nd of 219 |
| Median home value | $199k | 3rd of 6 | 117th of 225 |
Its median household income is higher than in 59% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 20% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 69138?
The 2020 Census counted 4,323 people in 69138; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 4,316. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell 3.7% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 4,316
- 2020 Census count
- 4,323−3.7% since 2010 (4,489)
- Households
- 1,772
- Median age
- 42.2
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 69138?
Of the 4,316 people the ACS estimates in 69138, 22.8% are under 18 and 19.6% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (88.3%).
- Under 1822.8%
- 18 to 6457.6%
- 65 and older19.6%
- White, not Hispanic88.3%
- Hispanic or Latino6.0%
- Other or two or more4.5%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.8%
- Black, not Hispanic0.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 69138 earn?
Median household income is $77,604 (ACS 2020-2024), the 4th highest of the 6 ranked ZIP codes in Dawson County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($85,889 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $77,604±$15,435
- Income per person
- $48,075
- Below the poverty line
- 8.8%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 2.4%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 25.8%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $80,8581,990 returns; wages 59% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 69138?
FHFA's house price index for 69138, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 49% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 32% from 2020 to 2025, and moved −7.5% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $199,300
- Median gross rent
- $921
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 74.3%
- Housing units
- 1,977
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 69138?
179 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 11 more than in 2018; the most are in professional, scientific, and technical services (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Professional, scientific, and technical services24
- Retail trade23
- Health care and social assistance23
- Other services (except public administration)21
- Wholesale trade17
- Accommodation and food services17
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 69138?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 69171 | Willow Island | 0 | – | 9.2 mi |
| 69123 | Brady | 972 | $86k | 10.7 mi |
| 69130 | Cozad | 5,004 | $63k | 13.1 mi |
| 68825 | Callaway | 995 | $64k | 21.5 mi |
| 69029 | Farnam | 361 | $44k | 22.2 mi |
| 69120 | Arnold | 1,208 | $70k | 30.3 mi |
| 69151 | Maxwell | 831 | $88k | 17.8 mi (near) |
| 68860 | Oconto | 301 | $96k | 22.0 mi (near) |
| 69039 | Moorefield | 122 | $49k | 22.9 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.