Living in Kearney, Nebraska
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Kearney · Census data 2020–2024
Kearney has 34,246 residents with a median age of 32.8. The median household income is $69,724 (9% lower than the Nebraska median), the median home value is $244,600, the median rent is $949/month.
Kearney at a glance
- Population
- 34,246
- Median age
- 32.8State: 37.2
- Median household income
- $69,724State: $76,475
- Median home value
- $244,600State: $238,600
- Median rent
- $949/moState: $1,072
- Homeowners
- 60.6%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 36.5%
- Average commute
- 14 min
Is Kearney a good place to live?
Pros: An average commute of 14 minutes; unemployment of 2.9%.
Cons: Median household income 9% lower than the Nebraska median; home values about the same as the state median; a poverty rate of 12.4%.
The weather is best in May–June and August–September.
Cost of living in Kearney
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Kearney the median home value is $244,600, 26% lower than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $949 per month, which is 27.1% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,691 a month in housing costs.
Kearney median household income
The median household income in Kearney is $69,724 and the income per person is $37,716. 12.4% of residents live below the poverty line (Nebraska: 10.6%).
Housing in Kearney: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 14,750
- Owner-occupied
- 60.6%
- Renter-occupied
- 39.4%
- Vacant
- 4.9%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1983
- Average household size
- 2.30
Kearney demographics
- Population
- 34,246
- Median age
- 32.8
- Under 18
- 20.8%
- 65 and older
- 16.2%
- Households
- 14,028
- Foreign-born
- 5.6%
- Veterans
- 5.4%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Kearney ›
Education in Kearney
36.5% of adults 25 and older in Kearney have a bachelor's degree or higher (Nebraska: 34.6%), and 12.5% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Kearney
- Unemployment rate
- 2.9%State: 3%
- Average commute
- 14 minState: 19 min
- Work from home
- 4.5%
- Drive alone
- 80.8%
- Public transit
- 0.3%
- Walk to work
- 2.2%
- Homes with broadband
- 91.4%
Kearney vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kearney | 34,246 | $69,724 | $244,600 | $949 |
| Glenwood | 653 | $143,098 | $337,900 | — |
| Riverdale | 307 | $85,227 | $137,500 | — |
| Odessa | 138 | $39,792 | $139,600 | — |
| Gibbon | 1,763 | $70,069 | $173,800 | $810 |
| Amherst | 272 | $69,125 | $169,800 | $679 |
| Minden | 3,108 | $68,449 | $208,500 | $823 |
| Elm Creek | 1,107 | $79,148 | $191,500 | $761 |
| Axtell | 818 | $72,083 | $205,100 | $1,115 |
More for people moving to Kearney
Kearney ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Kearney: FAQ
What is the median household income in Kearney, NE?
The median household income in Kearney is $69,724, 9% lower than the Nebraska median of $76,475 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Kearney?
The median home value in Kearney is $244,600, compared with $238,600 in Nebraska.
How much is rent in Kearney?
The median gross rent in Kearney is $949 per month, about 27.1% of household income.
Is Kearney, NE a good place to live?
Pluses: an average commute of 14 minutes; unemployment of 2.9%. Minuses: median household income 9% lower than the Nebraska median; home values about the same as the state median; a poverty rate of 12.4%.
What is the median age in Kearney?
The median age in Kearney is 32.8 years (Nebraska: 37.2).
How long is the commute in Kearney?
The average commute to work in Kearney is 14 minutes; 4.5% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Kearney?
The unemployment rate in Kearney is 2.9% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Kearney?
36.5% of adults in Kearney have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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