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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Kearney

Nebraska · 27,431 residents · 14.974 sq mi
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The short version

Kearney has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $34,829. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 24%. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $89,300. At a median age of 27.3, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, well above the US average, yet household income trails the national figure — a profile common to graduate-student tracts and academic hubs.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 27.3
US median: 35.2
More educated
35% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 26%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
27,431
+12%since 1990
from 24,396 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
27.3
+6%since 1990
from 25.9 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
23K26K29K32K35K1990201020202024Kearney
202434K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 56.7%(1,836)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 95.8%(1,603)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 145.9%(1,627)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 1910.6%(2,907)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 2417%(4,667)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.9%(3,812)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4412.3%(3,382)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5411.1%(3,040)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 646%(1,638)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 744.7%(1,276)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 844%(1,089)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over2%(554)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$34,829
+13%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $23,310 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$17,713
+56%since 1990
from $11,350 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
13.4%
−3.1 ptssince 1990
from 16.5% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$89,300
+26%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $53,700 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$509
+17%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $331 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
56.5%
+1.1 ptssince 1990
from 55.4% in 1990
43.5% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Kearney on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic97.7%(23,834)
Black0.4%(87)
Hispanic / Latino2%(488)
Asian0.4%(107)
2000
White, non-Hispanic93.1%(25,525)
Black0.6%(170)
Hispanic / Latino4.1%(1,118)
Asian0.9%(252)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican8.1%(2,761)
Guatemalan1.4%(476)
Bolivian0.3%(90)
Venezuelan0.2%(82)
Panamanian0.2%(70)
Puerto Rican0.2%(64)
Dominican0.1%(51)
Colombian0.1%(40)
Salvadoran0.1%(38)
Chilean0.1%(23)
+ 5 more hispanic origin groups with data
Spaniard0.1%(22)
Nicaraguan0.1%(18)
Honduran0%(13)
Cuban0%(5)
Asian origin
Chinese1%(326)
Japanese0.3%(107)
Nepalese0.2%(80)
Vietnamese0.2%(79)
Korean0.2%(52)
Kazakh0.1%(50)
Asian Indian0.1%(35)
Bangladeshi0.1%(20)
Thai0%(16)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0%(12)
Ancestry
German35.9%(12,307)
Irish13.5%(4,638)
English10.8%(3,684)
Swedish5.3%(1,799)
American4%(1,362)
Polish3.1%(1,072)
French2.6%(902)
Italian2.6%(900)
Czech2.6%(881)
Scottish1.8%(607)
Danish1.7%(575)
Norwegian1.4%(465)
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish0.8%(260)
Dutch0.7%(248)
British0.7%(225)
Russian0.4%(127)
Welsh0.4%(121)
Arab0.3%(109)
Lebanese0.2%(81)
Swiss0.2%(69)
Portuguese0.2%(63)
Australian0.2%(55)
Ethiopian0.1%(36)
Austrian0.1%(35)
Slovak0.1%(35)
Palestinian0.1%(28)
Finnish0.1%(28)
Greek0.1%(23)
Lithuanian0.1%(21)
Hungarian0%(14)
Armenian0%(10)
Ukrainian0%(10)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Mexican population · Largest Swedish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
34.9%
+6.0 ptssince 1990
from 28.9% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
89.8%
+5.1 ptssince 1990
from 84.7% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
12.4%
+1.9 ptssince 1990
from 10.5% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
10.5 min
−14%since 1990
from 12.2 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married41.1%(4,331)
Married49.7%(5,236)
Widowed2.3%(243)
Divorced6.8%(715)
Women 15+
Never married36.4%(4,224)
Married46.3%(5,380)
Widowed8.5%(991)
Divorced8.8%(1,022)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Kearney, Nebraska?

Kearney, Nebraska has about 27,431 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Kearney, Nebraska?

The typical household in Kearney, Nebraska earns about $34,829 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Kearney, Nebraska expensive?

In Kearney, Nebraska, the median home is worth about $89,300, and the typical rent is about $509 a month.

How educated are people in Kearney, Nebraska?

About 34.9% of adults age 25 and over in Kearney, Nebraska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Kearney, Nebraska?

About 13.4% of people in Kearney, Nebraska live below the federal poverty line.

Has Kearney, Nebraska grown since 1990?

Yes, Kearney, Nebraska has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,035 residents, a change of about 12 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →