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Living in
Kearney.
About
Life in Kearney
If you're considering Kearney, you're looking at a solidly middle-class college town that punches above its weight economically. The median household income hovers around $70,000 with a median home value about $245,000 and rent around $949 a month—genuinely affordable compared to most of the country. The University of Nebraska at Kearney anchors the community both culturally and economically, bringing events, young people, and a college-town energy without the chaos of a bigger university city.
Kearney at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.4%
Foreign-Born
5.6%
Broadband Internet
91.4%
of households
Population Growth
+2.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Kearney: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Kearney, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (22.1%), and 6.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.8%
of residents
65 and Older
16.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.2%
of households
Married Couples
39.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.30
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 11% below NE average
Rent, home values, and income in Kearney
In Kearney, rent runs 11% below the NE average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.1%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$3,641
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $318,869 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below NE average
Unemployment in Kearney
Unemployment in Kearney is 0.5 percentage points lower than the NE average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Kearney Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute13.9 min avg
How Kearney residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Kearney, most residents drive alone to work (81%), and 89% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Kearney Regional Airport (EAR)
Regional airport · few flights24k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 31% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Kearney runs 31% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
228.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,221.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Kearney Police Department
Natural DisastersHail most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
66.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Buffalo County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Buffalo County, which includes Kearney, the most common type is hail, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 31 | Thunderstorm Wind | $391,000 |
| 2023 | 31 | Drought | $13.7M |
| 2022 | 37 | Drought | $5.3M |
| 2021 | 21 | Winter Weather | $5.8M |
| 2020 | 24 | Winter Weather | $35,000 |
| 2019 | 26 | Hail | $38.3M |
| 2018 | 19 | Winter Weather | $740,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
9 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Buffalo County, county-wide
Air Quality34 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hall County, NE (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 32 miles from Kearney) is typically good — 278 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
34
Good Days
278
per year
Moderate Days
57
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Hall County, NE (32 mi away)
Climate84°F summers, 16°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Kearney has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and very cold winters (avg low 16°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/38°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
38°/16°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
25.9"
Annual Snowfall
21.8"
Hot Days/Year
31
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
157
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
82
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 14°F | 0.51" |
| Feb | 40°F | 17°F | 0.59" |
| Mar | 51°F | 25°F | 1.46" |
| Apr | 62°F | 36°F | 2.68" |
| May | 72°F | 47°F | 4.40" |
| Jun | 82°F | 59°F | 3.90" |
| Jul | 87°F | 63°F | 3.36" |
| Aug | 84°F | 61°F | 3.01" |
| Sep | 78°F | 51°F | 1.84" |
| Oct | 65°F | 38°F | 2.13" |
| Nov | 51°F | 25°F | 1.00" |
| Dec | 38°F | 17°F | 0.68" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Kearney
Kearney has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
7.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
CHI Health Good Samaritan
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Kearney Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Kearney
Kearney's student/teacher ratio is 16.3:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 36.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
14
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
36.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Kearney
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Public · 4-year · 4,088 students · in-state tuition $8,922 · 56% graduate · median earnings $55,176 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Nicodemus National Historic Site, 95 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Kearney
Kearney has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Nicodemus National Historic Site (95 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Nicodemus National Historic Site
National Historic Site
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Kearney
Kearney Public Library
2020 First Avenue, Kearney
Cities Near Kearney
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Kearney?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Kearney FAQ
Is Kearney, Nebraska affordable?⌄
Kearney's median rent is $949/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $69,724/year. Median home value is $244,600.
Is Kearney, Nebraska safe?⌄
Kearney's violent crime rate was 229 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1221 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Kearney, Nebraska?⌄
Kearney has an unemployment rate of 2.5%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Kearney, Nebraska?⌄
The cost of living in Kearney is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $949/month and median household income is $69,724/year. The median home value is $244,600. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Kearney, Nebraska?⌄
The average commute in Kearney is 14 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from