United States › Nebraska › Kearney County COUNTY
Kearney County Nebraska · 6,790 residents (2025 est.) · 516 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 6,713 people, Kearney County is a county in Nebraska. Few US counties rank higher on income. Density works out to 13 people per square mile. The foreign-born share is 2%. 77% of homes are owner-occupied. Home values have roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $223,400.
At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.2
US median: 38.9
Average education
34% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 59%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 6,882 in 2000
6,790 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 13 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 38.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
6K 7K 7K 7K 7K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Kearney County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $78,631
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,247 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $18,118 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 27.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 8.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.403 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 12.4%
Professional, scientific, technical 5.9%
Public administration 3.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 3.2%
Transportation & warehousing 2.6%
Education & health services 2.1%
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$223,400
+59%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $77,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$857
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $453 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 74.3% in 2000
22.5% rent
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.42 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 17.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 33.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 1.9 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 96.8%(6,659)
Hispanic / Latino 2.3%(161)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 90.8%(6,094)
Hispanic / Latino 6.8%(459)
from 11 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
from 27 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data from 21.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 88.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 76.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 2.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 70.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 79.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 33.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 11.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 8.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 76.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 89.3% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 92.0% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 95.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 4.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 8.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 54.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 27.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 20.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 12.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 4.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 78.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 30.4% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 23.7%(80)
Gulf War (1990s) 24.6%(83)
Share of the 338 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Kearney County Head to head
Compare Kearney County to nearby counties KEARNEY COUNTY VS
Franklin County
Income $60,195 −23%
Home value $95,600 −57%
Population 2,795 −59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KEARNEY COUNTY VS
Adams County
Income $68,365 −13%
Home value $193,100 −14%
Population 31,071 +358%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KEARNEY COUNTY VS
Phelps County
Income $68,919 −12%
Home value $194,900 −13%
Population 8,994 +32%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KEARNEY COUNTY VS
Buffalo County
Income $75,911 −3%
Home value $246,400 +10%
Population 51,172 +654%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Kearney County, Nebraska? Kearney County, Nebraska has about 6,713 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Kearney County, Nebraska? The typical household in Kearney County, Nebraska earns about $78,631 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Kearney County, Nebraska expensive? In Kearney County, Nebraska, the median home is worth about $223,400, and the typical rent is about $857 a month.
How educated are people in Kearney County, Nebraska? About 34.5% of adults age 25 and over in Kearney County, Nebraska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Kearney County, Nebraska? About 7.2% of people in Kearney County, Nebraska live below the federal poverty line.
Has Kearney County, Nebraska grown since 1990? Yes, Kearney County, Nebraska has grown since 1990. The population has added about 84 residents, a change of about 1 percent over that period.
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