Population & age
- Total population
- 30,224
- Median age
- 38.3
Columbus, NE (68601)
Platte County · Population 30,224
Fresh.Data current as of Apr 24, 2026
Columbus, NE (ZIP 68601) sits in Platte County. The page draws on 2 federal data feeds retrieved Apr 27. Top health signal: Obesity comes in above the national average at 42.3%. NCES lists 6 schools serving the area, 6 non-charter. IRS data shows average household income (AGI) of $73,993, well above the ~$45K national average per return. BLS LAUS reports county unemployment of just 2.3% (2024), well below the ~4.0% US average and consistent with a tight local labor market. FEMA has issued 31 federal disaster declarations affecting this ZIP since 1966 — a high-frequency exposure profile. Fast-food restaurants outnumber grocery stores roughly 5-to-1 per capita (USDA Food Environment Atlas) — a "food swamp" pattern often linked to higher diet-related disease prevalence. IRS migration data (2022-2023) shows a net loss of 312 residents (224 households) — the ZIP's primary county is shrinking. Healthcare access is the area's quieter strength; school options sit on the lighter side, so families may find themselves looking at districts a few ZIPs over. Notable: median household income $67,871, fair market rent of $1,060 for a two-bedroom, and a typical home value of $271,010, up 4.2% over the past year. Every figure on this page links to its underlying federal dataset with a retrieval date so you can audit the freshness yourself.
Demographics
Race & ethnicity
- White
- 81.9%
- Black
- 0.7%
- Asian
- 0.5%
- Hispanic / Latino
- 24.6%
- Other / multi-racial
- 16.7%
Income & housing
- Median household income
- $67,871
- Median home value
- $194,200
Education
- Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)
- 23.7%
Employment
- Unemployment rate
- 2.1%
Housing
- Owner-occupied
- 8,585(72.8%)
- Renter-occupied
- 3,205(27.2%)
- Vacant units
- 954
- Built (median)
- 1974
Commute
- Public transit
- 10(0.1%)
- Work from home
- 666(4.3%)
- Avg commute
- 13.1 min
Economic wellbeing
- Below poverty line
- 2,723(9.1%)
- Uninsured
- 603(2.0%)
Digital access
- Broadband access
- 10,225(86.7%)
- No broadband
- 1,565(13.3%)
Language & nativity
- Foreign-born
- 3,913(12.9%)
- Non-English at home
- 5,660(20.1%)
Fair Market Rent
Fresh.HUD SAFMR · May 1, 2026Studio
$740
/month
1 Bed
$810
/month
2 Bed
$1,060
/month
3 Bed
$1,400
/month
4 Bed
$1,410
/month
HUD Fair Market Rents represent the 40th percentile of standard-quality rental housing in this area. FY2026 data.
Home values
Typical home value
$271,010
Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) · as of March 2026
Year-over-year change
+4.2%
vs. March 2025
5-year change
+33.9%
vs. March 2021
Metro area
Columbus, NE
Metropolitan statistical area
Source: Zillow Research, ZHVI All Homes (SFR, Condo/Co-op) Time Series (zillow.com/research/data). Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) is copyrighted by Zillow, Inc.
New housing construction
New housing units permitted
175
Across 137 permitted buildings. Total construction value: $47.0M.
Single-family
126
72% of total units
Multifamily (2+ unit)
49
28% of total units
Single-family value
$39.5M
construction value
Multifamily value
$7.6M
construction value
Aggregated from 4 counties touching this ZIP (2024).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (census.gov/construction/bps). Public domain. BPS reports annual residential building permits from local permit-issuing jurisdictions, aggregated to county. A permit reflects intent to build, not a completed unit — actual construction lags by 6-24 months for multifamily projects.
Income & tax statistics
Tax returns filed
14,950
Average AGI
$73,993
Avg property tax
$193
EITC participation
11.2%
Income distribution
- $1 – $25,00024.2% · 3,620
- $25,000 – $50,00024.5% · 3,660
- $50,000 – $75,00019.5% · 2,920
- $75,000 – $100,00010.3% · 1,540
- $100,000 – $200,00017.2% · 2,570
- $200,000 or more4.3% · 640
Avg mortgage interest
$186
Avg charitable contribution
$667
Avg capital gains
$3,160
Avg total income tax
—
Source: IRS Statistics of Income — Individual Income Tax Statistics by ZIP Code (irs.gov). Public domain. Dollar columns reported in thousands by the IRS; figures here display real dollars. Total ZCTA AGI for the area was $1106.2M across all reported brackets.
Business & employment
Business establishments
870
Total employment
14,229
Annual payroll
$672.4M
Average annual pay
$47,258
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Business Patterns (census.gov). Public domain. ZBP covers establishments with paid employees; Census suppresses employment and payroll values when fewer employers operate in a ZIP than would protect their confidentiality.
Employment & wages
Average annual pay
$55,317
Average weekly wage
$1,064
Total employment
20,010
Total establishments
1,157
That is roughly 16% below the US national average of $65,470 per worker.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (bls.gov/cew). Public domain. QCEW is derived from state unemployment-insurance filings and covers ~95% of US jobs. Figures are county-level totals assigned to ZIPs whose primary county matches; small-employer cells are suppressed by BLS to protect employer confidentiality.
Unemployment
Unemployment rate
2.3%
That is 1.7 percentage points below the US national unemployment rate of about 4.0%.
Labor force
18,625
Employed
18,196
Unemployed
429
Based on Platte County, NE data (2024).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (bls.gov/lau). Public domain. LAUS publishes monthly and annual labor-force estimates for every US county. Figures are county-level totals assigned to ZIPs whose primary county matches.
Banking access
FDIC-insured bank branches
22
Strong banking access
Multiple institutions and offices within easy reach of residents.
Total deposits
$1.4B
across all branches in this ZIP
Distinct institutions
12
different banks operating here
Top banks by deposits in this ZIP
- 1.First National Bank of Omaha$419.2M · 3 branches
- 2.Pinnacle Bank$228.3M · 3 branches
- 3.Great Plains State Bank$192.9M · 3 branches
Based on FDIC-insured branch offices as of June 30, 2024.
Source: FDIC Summary of Deposits (fdic.gov). Annual June-30 snapshot of every FDIC-insured branch and the deposits booked there. Figures cover all institutions reporting a branch address in this ZIP.
Community health centers
Federally funded health-center sites
1
Single health-center site
One federally funded community health center serves this ZIP. Residents who need same-day care or specialty services may rely on neighboring ZIPs.
FQHC sites
1
federally qualified
Look-Alike sites
0
FQHC equivalents
Avg hours / week
42
across sites in this ZIP
Sites in this ZIP
- 1.East Central District Health Department/Good Neighbor Community Health Center
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Look-Alike sites provide primary care on a sliding-fee scale, regardless of ability to pay. Active sites only; data refreshed 2026.
Source: HRSA Bureau of Primary Health Care (data.hrsa.gov). Per-ZIP counts of active service-delivery sites operated by Health Center Program grantees and Look-Alike organizations.
Alternative-fuel stations
Public EV charging stations
8
Established EV charging
Multiple public charging stations across the ZIP — typical of mid-density suburban and small-urban areas with active EV adoption.
Level 2 ports
14
AC charging — workplace, retail, home
DC Fast ports
0
Highway-class fast charging
Charging networks
- ChargePoint Network
Other
1
Biodiesel, E85, LNG, RD
Active public stations only. Snapshot taken 2026; AFDC's underlying registry refreshes continuously as stations open and close.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy via NREL (afdc.energy.gov). Per-ZIP counts of active public alternative-fuel stations (electric, hydrogen, propane, CNG, biodiesel, E85, LNG, renewable diesel) and EV charging-port totals.
Public libraries
Public-library outlets
1
Single library outlet
One public-library outlet serves this ZIP — typical of suburban and small-town areas. Card holders also have full access to the rest of the system's branches.
Buildings
1
1 central
Avg hours / week
64.8
across outlets in this ZIP
Avg square feet
42,000
per outlet
Outlets in this ZIP
- 1.Columbus Public Library
Public libraries provide free WiFi, computer access, children's programming, job-seeking resources, and meeting space — community infrastructure beyond books. FY2023 outlet inventory from the federal Public Libraries Survey.
Source: Institute of Museum and Library Services (imls.gov). Per-ZIP counts of active public-library outlets — central buildings, branches, and bookmobiles — operated by federally reporting library systems.
Social Vulnerability Index
Overall SVI
52nd percentile
High Vulnerability
Based on 11 census tracts, population 29,751
Vulnerability Themes
- Socioeconomic Status43rd percentile
- Household Characteristics72nd percentile
- Racial & Ethnic Minority Status41st percentile
- Housing Type & Transportation47th percentile
Households Without Vehicle
749
Limited English Speakers
1,666
Persons with Disability
3,576
Without HS Diploma
2,185
Without Health Insurance
2,958
Adults Age 65+
5,161
The Social Vulnerability Index uses U.S. Census data to identify communities most at risk during public health emergencies and natural disasters. Higher percentiles indicate greater vulnerability. Tract-level scores are aggregated to this ZCTA via Census 2020 ZCTA→Tract crosswalk, weighted by land-area share. Source: atsdr.cdc.gov. Public domain.
Federal Disaster Declarations
Federally Declared Disasters
31
Date Range
1966–2025
Most Recent Declaration
SEVERE WINTER STORM AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS
Winter Storm — declared May 21, 2025 (DR-4868)
Incident period: March 18, 2025 – March 19, 2025
Top Incident Types
- Severe Storm15 (48%)
- Flood9 (29%)
- Biological2 (6%)
- Winter Storm1 (3%)
- Snowstorm1 (3%)
- Other3 (10%)
Individual Assistance
9
Direct help to disaster survivors
Households Program
4
Housing & temporary lodging support
Public Assistance
29
Repair of public facilities & roads
Hazard Mitigation
17
Funding to reduce future disaster risk
FEMA declares disasters at the county level; counts here include every federally declared disaster touching any county that overlaps this ZIP. Statewide declarations and pre-1964 records without county granularity are excluded. Program flags reflect which FEMA assistance categories were activated (Individual Assistance, Households, Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation). Source: fema.gov/openfema. Public domain.
Community health profile
Years of potential life lost (per 100K)
5,668
That is roughly 2,532 years per 100,000 below the national county median (~8,200).
Premature death is the headline composite outcome CHR reports — age-adjusted, all-cause, before age 75.
Fair or poor health
17%
of adults self-report
Poor physical health days
3.9
avg per adult per month
Poor mental health days
4.3
avg per adult per month
Uninsured
9.0%
of residents under 65
Primary care MDs
76
per 100,000 residents
Preventable hospital stays
2,375
per 100K Medicare enrollees
Food environment (0-10)
8.4
10 = best access & security
Exercise access
83%
residents near a facility
Flu vaccinated
58%
of Medicare enrollees
Low birth weight (under 2,500 g) accounts for 6.3% of live births in this county — an early-life health input that downstream outcomes track against.
Based on Platte data (2025 CHR release).
Source: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (countyhealthrankings.org). Annual release. Underlying source datasets vary by measure (CDC BRFSS, NCHS Vital Statistics, AHA, USDA Food Environment Atlas, and others). Figures are county-level and assigned to every ZIP whose primary county matches.
Food access
Food access status
Moderate food access challenges
19.2% of Platte County, NE residents live more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket.
Grocery stores
0.18
per 1,000 residents
Supercenters & clubs
—
per 1,000 residents
SNAP-authorized stores
0.67
accepting food benefits
Fast-food restaurants
0.84
per 1,000 residents
Among low-income residents, 3.8% are low-access — those without a supermarket within 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural).
Per-1,000 figures show how many of each store type exist in Platte County, NE for every 1,000 residents. Higher grocery and supercenter density usually means easier access to fresh food; higher convenience-store-only density (with low grocery rate) often signals a food swamp.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Environment Atlas (ers.usda.gov). County-level metrics fanned to ZIP via the primary county in the Census ZCTA-county relationship file. Variable years differ per family (stores ~2020, low-access ~2019).
Who’s moving in and out
Net migration (2022-2023)
▼−312 people
−224 households • −$21.5M net AGI flow
Moved in
994households
1,728 people • $51.9M AGI
Moved out
1,218households
2,040 people • $73.5M AGI
Where new residents came from
- Colfax County, NE — 113 households
- Lancaster County, NE — 57 households
- Butler County, NE — 42 households
- Douglas County, NE — 41 households
- Madison County, NE — 40 households
Where departing residents went
- Douglas County, NE — 113 households
- Lancaster County, NE — 108 households
- Colfax County, NE — 62 households
- Butler County, NE — 55 households
- Madison County, NE — 47 households
Incoming households reported an average AGI of $52,253 versus departing households' $60,332.
Source: U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income, Migration Data (irs.gov). Public domain. Migration is measured by year-over-year changes in the address on individual tax returns; figures are county-level totals attributed to ZIPs whose primary county matches. Foreign migration contributes to inflow/outflow totals but does not appear in the top-county lists. Small flows are suppressed by IRS to protect taxpayer confidentiality.
Data sources used on this page
Health profile
Crude prevalence estimates from CDC PLACES, derived from BRFSS small-area modeling. Population-level figures only.
Obesity
42.3%
9.3pp above the 33.0% national rate.
High Blood Pressure
34.7%
2.7pp above the 32.0% national rate.
Depression
16.2%
5.8pp below the 22.0% national rate.
Annual Checkup
76.4%
Tracks close to the 76.0% national rate.
Health Insurance
12.9%
Tracks close to the 13.0% national rate.
Diabetes
11.8%
Tracks close to the 11.0% national rate.
Schools in this ZIP
6 schools serve this ZIP, including 6 non-charter.
| School | Type | Grades | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHELL CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Public | -1–6 | 322 |
| LAKEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL | Public | 9–12 | 309 |
| LAKEVIEW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Public | 7–8 | 139 |
| RICHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Public | -1–8 | 73 |
| ESU 7 CENTER | Alternative | -2–-2 | — |
Showing top 5 by enrollment. 1 more schools serve this ZIP.
Schools listed from NCES Common Core of Data via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal.
Fresh.NCES CCD via Urban Institute EDP · Apr 27, 2026What these numbers say together
Columbus, NE (ZIP 68601) sits in Platte County. The page draws on 2 federal data feeds retrieved Apr 27. Top health signal: Obesity comes in above the national average at 42.3%. NCES lists 6 schools serving the area, 6 non-charter. IRS data shows average household income (AGI) of $73,993, well above the ~$45K national average per return. BLS LAUS reports county unemployment of just 2.3% (2024), well below the ~4.0% US average and consistent with a tight local labor market. FEMA has issued 31 federal disaster declarations affecting this ZIP since 1966 — a high-frequency exposure profile. Fast-food restaurants outnumber grocery stores roughly 5-to-1 per capita (USDA Food Environment Atlas) — a "food swamp" pattern often linked to higher diet-related disease prevalence. IRS migration data (2022-2023) shows a net loss of 312 residents (224 households) — the ZIP's primary county is shrinking. Healthcare access is the area's quieter strength; school options sit on the lighter side, so families may find themselves looking at districts a few ZIPs over. Notable: median household income $67,871, fair market rent of $1,060 for a two-bedroom, and a typical home value of $271,010, up 4.2% over the past year. Every figure on this page links to its underlying federal dataset with a retrieval date so you can audit the freshness yourself.
The two domains pull in different directions. Healthcare access reads strong, but the on-paper school count is on the lighter side — that’s less a quality signal and more a density one. Households here often look at districts a few ZIPs over for school choice while keeping their providers local.
One concrete reading worth keeping: Depression prevalence sits lower the national rate at 16.2%. Each figure on this page links to the original federal dataset with its retrieval date — this synthesis is a reading, not a substitute for the underlying records.
Frequently Asked Questions — ZIP 68601
What is the obesity rate in ZIP 68601?
42.3%, which is 9.3 percentage points above the national average of 33.0% (CDC PLACES, retrieved Apr 24, 2026).
What is the depression rate in ZIP 68601?
16.2%, which is 5.8 percentage points below the national average of 22.0% (CDC PLACES, retrieved Apr 24, 2026).
What is the high blood pressure rate in ZIP 68601?
34.7%, which is 2.7 percentage points above the national average of 32.0% (CDC PLACES, retrieved Apr 24, 2026).
How many schools are in ZIP 68601?
6 schools serve this ZIP, including 6 public schools (NCES CCD, retrieved Apr 27, 2026). No charter schools are listed in this ZIP by NCES CCD.
Does ZIP 68601 have charter schools?
No charter schools are listed in ZIP 68601 by NCES CCD (retrieved Apr 27, 2026).
Are there high schools in ZIP 68601?
Yes, 1 high school serves this ZIP: Lakeview High School. (NCES CCD, retrieved Apr 27, 2026).
What is the population of ZIP 68601?
30,224 people live in ZIP 68601, with a median age of 38.3 (Census ACS 5-Year 2022, retrieved Apr 30, 2026).
What is the median household income in ZIP 68601?
$67,871 per year (Census ACS 5-Year 2022, retrieved Apr 30, 2026).
Is ZIP 68601 mostly renters or homeowners?
In ZIP 68601, 72.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 27.2% are renter-occupied (Census ACS 5-Year 2022, retrieved Apr 30, 2026).
How do people commute in ZIP 68601?
In ZIP 68601, 4.3% of workers work from home. Public transit is used by 0.1% of commuters (Census ACS 5-Year 2022, retrieved Apr 30, 2026).
What is the poverty rate in ZIP 68601?
9.1% of the population in ZIP 68601 lives below the federal poverty line (Census ACS 5-Year 2022, retrieved Apr 30, 2026).
What percentage of households in ZIP 68601 have broadband internet?
86.7% of households in ZIP 68601 have broadband internet access (Census ACS 5-Year 2022, retrieved Apr 30, 2026).
What is the typical home value in ZIP 68601?
The typical home value in ZIP 68601 is $271,010, up 4.2% from a year ago (Zillow Home Value Index, retrieved May 1, 2026).
Are home values rising or falling in ZIP 68601?
Home values are up 4.2% over the past year and up 33.9% over the past five years (Zillow Home Value Index, retrieved May 1, 2026).
What is the average household income in ZIP 68601?
The average Adjusted Gross Income reported on tax returns from ZIP 68601 (Columbus, NE) is $73,993 per return (IRS SOI Tax Year 2022, retrieved May 2, 2026).
How much do homeowners pay in property tax in ZIP 68601?
Tax returns from ZIP 68601 report an average of $193 per return in real-estate tax deductions (IRS SOI Tax Year 2022, retrieved May 2, 2026).
What percentage of residents in ZIP 68601 earn over $200,000?
4.3% of tax returns from ZIP 68601 (Columbus, NE) report Adjusted Gross Income of $200,000 or more (IRS SOI Tax Year 2022, retrieved May 2, 2026).
How many businesses are in ZIP 68601?
As of 2022, 870 business establishments operated in ZIP 68601 employing 14,229 workers (Census ZIP Business Patterns, retrieved May 3, 2026).
What is the average salary in ZIP 68601?
The average annual pay across all local establishments in ZIP 68601 is $47,258, based on Census ZIP Business Patterns 2022 data (retrieved May 3, 2026).
How vulnerable is ZIP 68601 to disasters and public health emergencies?
According to the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (2022), ZIP 68601 ranks in the 52th percentile nationally for social vulnerability — a high vulnerability profile (retrieved May 3, 2026).
What is the biggest vulnerability factor in ZIP 68601?
Household Characteristics is the highest-scoring CDC SVI theme for ZIP 68601, ranking in the 72th percentile nationally (CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022, retrieved May 3, 2026).
How many federally declared disasters has ZIP 68601 experienced?
FEMA has recorded 31 federal disaster declarations affecting ZIP 68601 between 1966–2025 (FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations, retrieved May 3, 2026).
What kinds of disasters most often hit ZIP 68601?
Severe Storm is the most common federally declared disaster type affecting ZIP 68601, accounting for 15 of 31 declarations (48%, FEMA OpenFEMA, retrieved May 3, 2026).
What was the most recent disaster declared for ZIP 68601?
The most recent FEMA disaster declaration affecting ZIP 68601 was "SEVERE WINTER STORM AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS" — a winter storm declared in 2025 (DR-4868) (FEMA OpenFEMA, retrieved May 3, 2026).
What data is available for ZIP 68601?
This page covers health outcomes from CDC PLACES (40 metrics), school information from NCES CCD (6 schools), demographics from the Census ACS 5-Year (2022), home values from the Zillow Home Value Index, income & tax statistics from the IRS SOI (Tax Year 2022), local business & employment from Census ZIP Business Patterns (2022), social vulnerability scores from the CDC/ATSDR SVI (2022), and federal disaster declarations from FEMA OpenFEMA (31 on record). Data is refreshed on Mubboo's standard schedule.
How current is this data?
Health data retrieved Apr 24, 2026 from CDC PLACES. School data retrieved Apr 27, 2026 from NCES CCD. Demographics retrieved Apr 30, 2026 from Census ACS 5-Year (2022). Home values retrieved May 1, 2026 from Zillow Research. Income & tax statistics retrieved May 2, 2026 from IRS SOI (Tax Year 2022). Business & employment retrieved May 3, 2026 from Census ZBP (2022). Social vulnerability scores retrieved May 3, 2026 from CDC/ATSDR SVI (2022). Federal disaster declarations retrieved May 3, 2026 from FEMA OpenFEMA (31 on record).
More Info topics
Nearby ZIPs: more ZIP code profiles launching Q3 2026.
Have a specific question about ZIP 68601?
Ask Mubboo — launching Q4 2026.
Data refreshed via Mubboo's ETL pipeline; oldest source on this page retrieved Apr 24, 2026.