ZIP Code · NE

ZIP 68521

Part of Lincoln, NE

Pop. 37,050·Lancaster County·20th most expensive ZIP in Nebraska

Median rent (all units)

$1,464/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.4%

Month-over-Month

+0.7%

vs US Median

-$468

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 68521 · $1,464

More affordable than 76% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$970

1 BR

$1,050

2 BR

$1,290

3 BR

$1,790

4 BR+

$1,940

Research median

$1,290/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

December. Asking rents in ZIP 68521 usually run 0.6% below trend in December and 0.6% above it in May, about $18 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 68521 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2020.

Past year vs. the rest of Nebraska

Rent in ZIP 68521 changed +3.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 47 Nebraska ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.3%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($67,483) is $1,687 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,290); a 3-bedroom is $1,790.

Rank in Lincoln

11th cheapest of 14 ZIP codes in Lincoln.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 68504, 3 miles away, rents for 19% less ($1,190/mo), about $3,300 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 68521. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$17,568/yr

At $1,464/mo median

Location

CityLincoln

StateNE

CountyLancaster County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.4% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.4% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 68521 (Lincoln, NE) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 33.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

37,050

Median income

$67,483

Median age

Renters

42.2%

Age distribution

25.2%

27.6%

25.6%

Under 1825.2%

18–3427.6%

35–5425.6%

55–6410.2%

65+11.4%

Gender

49.5%

50.5%

Male49.5%

Female50.5%

Race & ethnicity

74.3%

12.4%

White74.3%

Black4%

Hispanic12.4%

Asian7.4%

Other1.9%

Education (25+)

24.4%

30.9%

33.6%

No HS diploma11.2%

HS diploma24.4%

Some college30.9%

Bachelor's+33.6%

Housing tenure

57.8%

42.2%

Owner57.8%

Renter42.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 68521 in Lincoln, NE has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,075 → $1,464

up 36.2%

Income

$57,270 → $67,483

up 17.8%

Population

37,409 → 37,050

down 1.0%

Renter share

43.5% → 42.2%

-1.3 pts

Bachelor's+

32.6% → 33.6%

+1.0 pts

Median age

31.4 → 33

+1.6 yrs

Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 68521 in Lincoln, NE has climbed from $1,075 to $1,464, a 36.2% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $57,270 in 2021 to $67,483 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 1.0% since 2021, moving from about 37,409 residents to roughly 37,050. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 68521 in Lincoln, NE market of 2021.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 68521

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 68521 covers Lincoln, NE. The median rent here is $1,464/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,050/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,290/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($67,483/yr), ZIP 68521 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 68521?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $59,000/year (about $28/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,464/mo in ZIP 68521. The local median household income is $67,483/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 68521?

Rent in ZIP 68521 has risen 3.4% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2020.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 68521?

Asking rents in ZIP 68521 are usually lowest in December, about 0.6% below their yearly trend, and highest in May, about 0.6% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $18 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 68521 compare to other ZIPs in Nebraska?

ZIP 68521 is in the middle among Nebraska ZIP codes for rent, ranking #20 of 52 at $1,464/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 68521 changed +3.4%, against a typical +2.3% across the 47 Nebraska ZIP codes Zillow tracks.