ZIP Code · NE

ZIP 68845

Part of Kearney, NE

Pop. 20,536·Buffalo County·9th most expensive ZIP in Nebraska

Median rent (all units)

$1,638/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.5%

Month-over-Month

+0.3%

vs US Median

-$294

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 68845 · $1,638

More affordable than 63% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$770

1 BR

$850

2 BR

$1,010

3 BR

$1,330

4 BR+

$1,690

Research median

$1,010/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

Past year vs. the rest of Nebraska

Rent in ZIP 68845 changed +4.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 47 Nebraska ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.3%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($76,978) is $1,924 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,690).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 68845. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$19,656/yr

At $1,638/mo median

Location

CityKearney

StateNE

CountyBuffalo County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (4.5% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.5% YoY, +0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 68845 (Kearney, NE) is majority owner-occupied, 41.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

20,536

Median income

$76,978

Median age

34.7

Renters

40.8%

Age distribution

20.7%

29.6%

22.3%

17.4%

Under 1820.7%

18–3429.6%

35–5422.3%

55–6410%

65+17.4%

Gender

49.3%

50.7%

Male49.3%

Female50.7%

Race & ethnicity

87.3%

White87.3%

Black1.4%

Hispanic9.2%

Asian1.2%

Other0.9%

Education (25+)

16.9%

36%

41.2%

No HS diploma5.9%

HS diploma16.9%

Some college36%

Bachelor's+41.2%

Housing tenure

59.2%

40.8%

Owner59.2%

Renter40.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 68845 in Kearney, NE has changed in 5 years

Income

$70,881 → $76,978

up 8.6%

Population

20,632 → 20,536

down 0.5%

Renter share

39.5% → 40.8%

+1.3 pts

Bachelor's+

42.8% → 41.2%

-1.6 pts

Median age

32.3 → 34.7

+2.4 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $70,881 to $76,978 across the same window, up 8.6% versus 2021.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 68845

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 68845

About renting in ZIP 68845

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 68845 covers Kearney, NE. The median rent here is $1,638/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $850/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,010/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($76,978/yr), ZIP 68845 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 68845?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $66,000/year (about $32/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,638/mo in ZIP 68845. The local median household income is $76,978/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 68845?

Rent in ZIP 68845 has risen 4.5% over the past year.

How does ZIP 68845 compare to other ZIPs in Nebraska?

ZIP 68845 is one of the pricier among Nebraska ZIP codes for rent, ranking #9 of 52 at $1,638/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 68845 changed +4.5%, against a typical +2.3% across the 47 Nebraska ZIP codes Zillow tracks.