Zip code 68856: Merna, Nebraska

Q: What city is zip code 68856?

68856 is assigned to Merna, Nebraska. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 68856 in?

68856 is in Custer County, Nebraska.

Q: What is the population of 68856?

About 715 people live in 68856, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 68856?

The median household income in 68856 is $73,000.

Q: What zip codes are near 68856?

The closest zip codes to 68856 are 68822, 68813, 68825, 68874, 69120.

Residential delivery areaCuster CountyCentral Time

Population

715

Median household income

$73K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$190K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$983/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

38.2

U.S. 38.9

Land area

124 sq mi

6 people/sq mi

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

About 68856

68856 is a rural zip code in Merna, Nebraska (Custer County), covering 124 sq mi of land. About 715 people live here, or 6 per square mile. The median resident is 38.2 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $73,000 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 11.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $190,000, or 2.6 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 78% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $983 a month.

23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 13.5 minutes each way, and 9% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; construction and repair; and transportation and moving goods. 32% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 68856 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Self-employed workers32.3%
99th
U.S. 10% · NE 10.8%54th of 540 in NE
Broadband access96%
85th
StrengthU.S. 91% · NE 90.6%57th of 538 in NE
Residents under 1825.7%
79th
U.S. 22% · NE 24.5%179th of 540 in NE
Homeownership rate77.9%
74th
U.S. 65.2% · NE 66.5%311th of 538 in NE
Housing vacancy10.2%
72nd
U.S. 10.1% · NE 7.6%295th of 538 in NE
Rent-burdened renters56.1%
70th
U.S. 51.1% · NE 45.1%59th of 523 in NE
Residents 65 and older19.4%
70th
U.S. 17.2% · NE 16.7%315th of 540 in NE
Income inequality (Gini)0.459
69th
U.S. 0.483 · NE 0.456107th of 538 in NE
Poverty rate11.2%
52nd
U.S. 12.5% · NE 10.6%158th of 539 in NE
Median earnings per worker$46,406
45th
U.S. $49,666 · NE $47,319244th of 540 in NE
Median age38.2
44th
U.S. 38.9 · NE 37.2378th of 540 in NE
Per capita income$37,384
42nd
U.S. $44,673 · NE $41,751297th of 540 in NE
Median household income$73,000
40th
U.S. $80,734 · NE $76,475280th of 530 in NE
Veterans4.5%
32nd
U.S. 6.2% · NE 6.9%427th of 540 in NE
Bachelor's degree or higher23%
29th
U.S. 35.7% · NE 34.6%309th of 539 in NE
Work from home8.9%
28th
U.S. 15.1% · NE 11%237th of 540 in NE
Uninsured rate4.5%
27th
U.S. 8.4% · NE 7.2%336th of 540 in NE
Median gross rent$983
20th
U.S. $1,413 · NE $1,072117th of 441 in NE
Median home value$190,000
19th
U.S. $332,700 · NE $238,600203rd of 511 in NE
Diversity index19.6
12th
U.S. 61.4 · NE 41.3231st of 540 in NE
Government workers8.2%
8th
U.S. 14.5% · NE 15%484th of 540 in NE
Healthcare workers5.8%
7th
U.S. 9.7% · NE 9.5%391st of 540 in NE
Population715
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · NE 1,978,707299th of 540 in NE
Population density6/sq mi
1st
U.S. 95/sq mi · NE 26/sq mi368th of 540 in NE
Average commute13.5 min
1st
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · NE 19.2 min505th of 537 in NE
Unemployment rate0.8%
1st
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · NE 3%360th of 540 in NE
Foreign-born residents0.1%
1st
U.S. 14.1% · NE 8%413th of 540 in NE
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · NE 3.3%382nd of 540 in NE

Measure	68856	Custer	NE	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NE
Self-employed workers	32.3%	24.2%	10.8%	10%	99th	54th of 540
Broadband accessStrength	96%	82%	90.6%	91%	85th	57th of 538
Residents under 18	25.7%	24.3%	24.5%	22%	79th	179th of 540
Homeownership rate	77.9%	68.9%	66.5%	65.2%	74th	311th of 538
Housing vacancy	10.2%	15.6%	7.6%	10.1%	72nd	295th of 538
Rent-burdened renters	56.1%	32.4%	45.1%	51.1%	70th	59th of 523
Residents 65 and older	19.4%	22.6%	16.7%	17.2%	70th	315th of 540
Income inequality (Gini)	0.459	0.417	0.456	0.483	69th	107th of 538
Poverty rate	11.2%	7.1%	10.6%	12.5%	52nd	158th of 539
Median earnings per worker	$46,406	$45,845	$47,319	$49,666	45th	244th of 540
Median age	38.2	42.1	37.2	38.9	44th	378th of 540
Per capita income	$37,384	$36,967	$41,751	$44,673	42nd	297th of 540
Median household income	$73,000	$67,906	$76,475	$80,734	40th	280th of 530
Veterans	4.5%	6%	6.9%	6.2%	32nd	427th of 540
Bachelor's degree or higher	23%	24.3%	34.6%	35.7%	29th	309th of 539
Work from home	8.9%	6.1%	11%	15.1%	28th	237th of 540
Uninsured rate	4.5%	7.1%	7.2%	8.4%	27th	336th of 540
Median gross rent	$983	$853	$1,072	$1,413	20th	117th of 441
Median home value	$190,000	$157,800	$238,600	$332,700	19th	203rd of 511
Diversity index	19.6	15.9	41.3	61.4	12th	231st of 540
Government workers	8.2%	14.6%	15%	14.5%	8th	484th of 540
Healthcare workers	5.8%	7.3%	9.5%	9.7%	7th	391st of 540
Population	715	10,518	1,978,707	334,922,499	1st	299th of 540
Population density	6/sq mi	4/sq mi	26/sq mi	95/sq mi	1st	368th of 540
Average commuteStrength	13.5 min	17.4 min	19.2 min	26.4 min	1st	505th of 537
Unemployment rateStrength	0.8%	2.6%	3%	5.2%	1st	360th of 540
Foreign-born residents	0.1%	1.9%	8%	14.1%	1st	413th of 540
Tech workers	0%	1%	3.3%	3.8%	1st	382nd of 540

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

18%

5–17

18–24

13%

25–34

15%

35–44

11%

45–54

55–64

15%

65–74

75+

Median age

38.2

Under 18

25.7%

65 and over

19.4%

Race and ethnicity

White89%
Black0%
Hispanic2%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other6%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

19.6

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

0.1%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

83.9%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

99%

Spanish

0.7%

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 272
Average household size: 2.6
Family households: 77.9%
Married couples: 69.1%
Living alone: 18.8%
Veterans (of adults): 4.5%
Male / female: 57% / 43%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

11%

$25–50k

26%

$50–75k

15%

$75–100k

21%

$100–150k

16%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

68856

$73,000

Custer Co.

$67,906

Nebraska

$76,475

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$37,384

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

11.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

11.4%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.459

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

68856

$190,000

Custer Co.

$157,800

Nebraska

$238,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

68856

$983

Custer Co.

$853

Nebraska

$1,072

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

96%

2–4 units

0.7%

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 303
Owner-occupied: 77.9%
Vacant: 10.2%
Median year built: 1963
Median rooms: 7.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 56.1%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 24.4%
Home value to income: 2.6× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

68%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

11%

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

33%

10–19

41%

20–29

18%

30–44

45–59

60+

0.3%

Average commute

13.5 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

0.8%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

67.6%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

25%

Construction and repair

10%

Transportation and moving

Sales

Business and finance

Office and admin

Farming, fishing and forestry

Healthcare

Food service

Production

Education

Cleaning and personal care

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Computer and math

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Industries

Agriculture and mining

33%

Manufacturing

18%

Health care and social assistance

Finance, insurance and real estate

Other services

Education

Retail

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Restaurants and hotels

Construction

Public administration

Wholesale

Information

Professional and technical services

Admin, support and management

0.5%

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$46,406

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

32.3%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

8.2%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

5.8%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	68856	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$50,817	$74,888
Service	$20,625	$26,804
Sales and office	$40,208	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$64,375	$49,199
Production and transportation	$52,188	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

32%

Some college

22%

Associate's

20%

Bachelor's

18%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 97.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 23%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.6%
Households with broadband: 96%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 81.3%
No internet access: 3.3%
Without health insurance: 4.5%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Merna
State: Nebraska
County: Custer County
Center point: 41.5030° N, 99.8176° W
Land area: 124 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Zip codes near 68856

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
68822	Broken Bow, NE	13 mi	4,335	$67,500	$154,600
68813	Anselmo, NE	14 mi	518	$73,160	$262,800
68825	Callaway, NE	18 mi	995	$64,432	$175,900
68874	Sargent, NE	21 mi	821	$60,139	$88,300
69120	Arnold, NE	23 mi	1,208	$69,886	$158,200
68833	Dunning, NE	24 mi	148	$62,813	$104,200
68881	Westerville, NE	24 mi	26	—	—
68814	Ansley, NE	25 mi	984	$73,295	$156,400
68860	Oconto, NE	26 mi	301	$95,750	$72,500
68828	Comstock, NE	30 mi	204	$61,667	$88,100
68879	Taylor, NE	32 mi	377	$80,893	$125,000
68855	Mason City, NE	34 mi	400	$78,750	$235,000

Questions about 68856

What city is zip code 68856?

68856 is assigned to Merna, Nebraska. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 68856 in?

68856 is in Custer County, Nebraska.

What is the population of 68856?

About 715 people live in 68856, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 68856 in?

68856 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 68856?

The median household income in 68856 is $73,000.

What zip codes are near 68856?

The closest zip codes to 68856 are 68822, 68813, 68825, 68874, 69120.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 68856, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.