Zip code 68601: Columbus, Nebraska

Q: What city is zip code 68601?

68601 is assigned to Columbus, Nebraska. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 68601 in?

68601 is mostly in Platte County, but it extends into 3 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 68601?

About 30,944 people live in 68601, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 68601?

The median household income in 68601 is $68,480.

Q: What zip codes are near 68601?

The closest zip codes to 68601 are 68602, 68634, 68653, 68624, 68647.

Residential delivery areaPlatte CountyCentral Time

Population

30,944

Median household income

$68K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$222K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$897/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

37.9

U.S. 38.9

Land area

288 sq mi

108 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 68601

68601 is a small-town zip code in Columbus, Nebraska (Platte County), covering 288 sq mi of land. About 30,944 people live here, or 108 per square mile. The median resident is 37.9 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $68,480 a year, 15% below the national median of $80,734. 10.5% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $221,900, or 3.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 69% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $897 a month.

22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 15.7 minutes each way, and 4% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in production and manufacturing; management; and transportation and moving goods.

How 68601 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Residents under 1826.2%
82nd
U.S. 22% · NE 24.5%165th of 540 in NE
Self-employed workers11.8%
76th
U.S. 10% · NE 10.8%367th of 540 in NE
Residents 65 and older18.6%
65th
U.S. 17.2% · NE 16.7%346th of 540 in NE
Foreign-born residents13.9%
62nd
U.S. 14.1% · NE 8%25th of 540 in NE
Uninsured rate8.3%
61st
U.S. 8.4% · NE 7.2%150th of 540 in NE
Homeownership rate69.3%
52nd
U.S. 65.2% · NE 66.5%433rd of 538 in NE
Population30,944
51st
U.S. 334,922,499 · NE 1,978,70711th of 540 in NE
Poverty rate10.5%
48th
U.S. 12.5% · NE 10.6%188th of 539 in NE
Diversity index44.7
43rd
U.S. 61.4 · NE 41.356th of 540 in NE
Housing vacancy5.9%
43rd
U.S. 10.1% · NE 7.6%401st of 538 in NE
Income inequality (Gini)0.426
42nd
U.S. 0.483 · NE 0.456204th of 538 in NE
Median age37.9
41st
U.S. 38.9 · NE 37.2391st of 540 in NE
Veterans5.2%
41st
U.S. 6.2% · NE 6.9%388th of 540 in NE
Per capita income$36,313
38th
U.S. $44,673 · NE $41,751339th of 540 in NE
Median earnings per worker$44,229
37th
U.S. $49,666 · NE $47,319300th of 540 in NE
Median household income$68,480
33rd
U.S. $80,734 · NE $76,475330th of 530 in NE
Bachelor's degree or higher22.4%
27th
U.S. 35.7% · NE 34.6%325th of 539 in NE
Median home value$221,900
26th
U.S. $332,700 · NE $238,600138th of 511 in NE
Broadband access88.6%
26th
U.S. 91% · NE 90.6%243rd of 538 in NE
Tech workers1.6%
25th
U.S. 3.8% · NE 3.3%164th of 540 in NE
Healthcare workers7.3%
19th
U.S. 9.7% · NE 9.5%333rd of 540 in NE
Rent-burdened renters40.7%
17th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · NE 45.1%173rd of 523 in NE
Population density108/sq mi
14th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NE 26/sq mi85th of 540 in NE
Median gross rent$897
13th
U.S. $1,413 · NE $1,072178th of 441 in NE
Government workers8.7%
10th
U.S. 14.5% · NE 15%471st of 540 in NE
Unemployment rate2.1%
6th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · NE 3%215th of 540 in NE
Work from home4.3%
5th
U.S. 15.1% · NE 11%417th of 540 in NE
Average commute15.7 min
2nd
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · NE 19.2 min461st of 537 in NE

Measure	68601	Platte	NE	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NE
Residents under 18	26.2%	26.6%	24.5%	22%	82nd	165th of 540
Self-employed workers	11.8%	13.2%	10.8%	10%	76th	367th of 540
Residents 65 and older	18.6%	18.3%	16.7%	17.2%	65th	346th of 540
Foreign-born residents	13.9%	12.3%	8%	14.1%	62nd	25th of 540
Uninsured rate	8.3%	7.3%	7.2%	8.4%	61st	150th of 540
Homeownership rate	69.3%	71.6%	66.5%	65.2%	52nd	433rd of 538
Population	30,944	34,716	1,978,707	334,922,499	51st	11th of 540
Poverty rate	10.5%	9.8%	10.6%	12.5%	48th	188th of 539
Diversity index	44.7	41.5	41.3	61.4	43rd	56th of 540
Housing vacancy	5.9%	4.7%	7.6%	10.1%	43rd	401st of 538
Income inequality (Gini)	0.426	0.419	0.456	0.483	42nd	204th of 538
Median age	37.9	37.7	37.2	38.9	41st	391st of 540
Veterans	5.2%	5.1%	6.9%	6.2%	41st	388th of 540
Per capita income	$36,313	$36,874	$41,751	$44,673	38th	339th of 540
Median earnings per worker	$44,229	$44,966	$47,319	$49,666	37th	300th of 540
Median household income	$68,480	$71,552	$76,475	$80,734	33rd	330th of 530
Bachelor's degree or higher	22.4%	23%	34.6%	35.7%	27th	325th of 539
Median home value	$221,900	$223,900	$238,600	$332,700	26th	138th of 511
Broadband access	88.6%	88.7%	90.6%	91%	26th	243rd of 538
Tech workers	1.6%	1.5%	3.3%	3.8%	25th	164th of 540
Healthcare workers	7.3%	7.3%	9.5%	9.7%	19th	333rd of 540
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	40.7%	40.2%	45.1%	51.1%	17th	173rd of 523
Population density	108/sq mi	51/sq mi	26/sq mi	95/sq mi	14th	85th of 540
Median gross rent	$897	$897	$1,072	$1,413	13th	178th of 441
Government workers	8.7%	8.6%	15%	14.5%	10th	471st of 540
Unemployment rateStrength	2.1%	2%	3%	5.2%	6th	215th of 540
Work from home	4.3%	5.3%	11%	15.1%	5th	417th of 540
Average commuteStrength	15.7 min	16.1 min	19.2 min	26.4 min	2nd	461st of 537

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

20%

5–17

18–24

11%

25–34

13%

35–44

10%

45–54

12%

55–64

11%

65–74

75+

Median age

37.9

Under 18

26.2%

65 and over

18.6%

Race and ethnicity

White69%
Black0.8%
Hispanic27%
Asian0.2%
Native American0.2%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.1%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

44.7

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

13.9%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

67%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

81%

Spanish

18%

Other Indo-European

0.9%

Asian / Pacific

0.3%

Other

0.1%

Households

Households: 12,223
Average household size: 2.5
Family households: 64.9%
Married couples: 47.6%
Living alone: 31%
Veterans (of adults): 5.2%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

14%

$25–50k

21%

$50–75k

20%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

19%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

68601

$68,480

Platte Co.

$71,552

Nebraska

$76,475

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$36,313

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

10.5%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

14.3%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.426

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

68601

$221,900

Platte Co.

$223,900

Nebraska

$238,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

68601

$897

Platte Co.

$897

Nebraska

$1,072

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

78%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 12,992
Owner-occupied: 69.3%
Vacant: 5.9%
Median year built: 1974
Median rooms: 6.1
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 40.7%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 22.2%
Home value to income: 3.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

80%

Carpooled

10%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

0.3%

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

39%

10–19

39%

20–29

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

15.7 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

2.1%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

68.7%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Production

18%

Management

11%

Transportation and moving

Construction and repair

Office and admin

Healthcare

Sales

Food service

Education

Cleaning and personal care

Engineering and science

Business and finance

Farming, fishing and forestry

Legal and social services

Computer and math

Police and fire

Arts, media and sports

Industries

Manufacturing

29%

Health care and social assistance

11%

Retail

Construction

Other services

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Restaurants and hotels

Education

Agriculture and mining

Finance, insurance and real estate

Public administration

Professional and technical services

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Admin, support and management

Information

0.4%

Median earnings per worker

$44,229

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

11.8%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

8.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

8.4%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	68601	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$58,287	$74,888
Service	$15,905	$26,804
Sales and office	$37,267	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$50,455	$49,199
Production and transportation	$46,698	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

11%

High school

33%

Some college

22%

Associate's

12%

Bachelor's

16%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 89.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 22.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 6.3%
Households with broadband: 88.6%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 72.8%
No internet access: 8.3%
Without health insurance: 8.3%
Limited-English households: 4.8%

Geography

City (USPS): Columbus
State: Nebraska
County: Platte County
Center point: 41.4524° N, 97.3947° W
Land area: 288 sq mi
Water area: 11 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

68601 spans 4 counties

Platte County74% of land
Colfax County13% of land
Polk County11% of land
Butler County2% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Columbus4% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 68601

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
68602	Columbus, NE · PO box	2.1 mi	—	—	—
68634	Duncan, NE	7.2 mi	635	$74,125	$165,000
68653	Platte Center, NE	9.3 mi	748	$99,500	$222,900
68624	Bellwood, NE	11 mi	1,009	$69,167	$195,000
68647	Monroe, NE	13 mi	702	$103,038	$205,400
68661	Schuyler, NE	16 mi	7,459	$83,279	$155,200
68631	Creston, NE	17 mi	337	$86,750	$200,000
68662	Shelby, NE	17 mi	1,088	$89,706	$168,900
68642	Humphrey, NE	18 mi	1,628	$93,798	$266,400
68651	Osceola, NE	18 mi	1,364	$78,487	$191,300
68658	Rising City, NE	18 mi	604	$103,125	$213,700
68663	Silver Creek, NE	19 mi	782	$57,333	$210,500

Zip codes like 68601 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 68601

What city is zip code 68601?

68601 is assigned to Columbus, Nebraska. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 68601 in?

68601 is mostly in Platte County, but it extends into 3 other counties.

What is the population of 68601?

About 30,944 people live in 68601, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 68601 in?

68601 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 68601?

The median household income in 68601 is $68,480.

What zip codes are near 68601?

The closest zip codes to 68601 are 68602, 68634, 68653, 68624, 68647.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 68601, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.