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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Kearney Micro

Kearney, NE · 2 counties · 57,962 residents (2025 est.) · 1,484.437 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#36Lowest unemploymentof 9252.5%#46Shortest commutesof 92516.6
The short version

Kearney has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $76,230. Population has grown 17% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $243,705. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.7
US median: 38.9
Average education
34% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 55%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
57,292
+17%since 2000
from 49,141 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
39 / sq mi
+17%since 2000
from 33 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
35.7
+14%since 2000
from 31.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:57,962 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
43K47K51K55K59K1990201020202024Kearney
202457K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$76,230
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,127 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,134
+122%since 2000
from $17,595 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
50.6%
+24.3 ptssince 2009
from 26.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.6%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 10.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.439
+5%since 2010
from 0.418 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade6.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction5.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance5%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$243,705
+55%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $86,158 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$927
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $489 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
67.7%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 65.1% in 2000
32.3% rent
Vacancy rate
6.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.3%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 37.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+38%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
56
RELATED:See current rent listings in Kearney on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.6%(45,972)
Black0.5%(238)
Hispanic / Latino4.3%(2,131)
Asian0.6%(304)
Other0%
Diversity Score13.1%(6,443)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic84.6%(48,456)
Black0.7%(393)
Hispanic / Latino10.2%(5,844)
Asian1.5%(858)
Other3%(1,741)
Diversity Score34.1%(19,556)
Segregation Score22.1%(12,668)
Diversity Score
34
+160%since 2000
from 13 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
22
−15%since 2020
from 26 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
34.4%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 29.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.8%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 89.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.9%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.6 min
+45%since 2000
from 11.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 81.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.2%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.0%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.5%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 4.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
70.5%
−2.2 ptssince 2011
from 72.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.2%
−27.9 ptssince 2009
from 64.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Female
49.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Foreign born
4.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.1%
−42.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.1%
+2.8 ptssince 2012
from 9.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.9%
−83.8 ptssince 2013
from 90.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.0%
+11.3 ptssince 2017
from 79.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.5%
−1.3 ptssince 2016
from 92.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 5.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

KearneyCENTRAL34,782
What's inside

2 component counties

Buffalo CountyCENTRAL51,172Kearney County6,790
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Kearney

Batavia
Pop 58,416
Kingsland
Pop 60,143
Carson
Pop 58,571
Carlsbad
Pop 62,509
Places similar to Kearney
Head to head

Compare Kearney side by side

KEARNEY VS
Batavia
Income$73,314−4%
Home value$170,500−30%
Population58,416+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KEARNEY VS
Kingsland
Income$74,378−2%
Home value$261,400+7%
Population60,143+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KEARNEY VS
Carson
Income$72,355−5%
Home value$453,000+86%
Population58,571+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KEARNEY VS
Carlsbad
Income$78,426+3%
Home value$212,600−13%
Population62,509+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Kearney, NE?

Kearney, NE has about 57,292 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Kearney, NE?

The typical household in Kearney, NE earns about $76,230 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Kearney, NE expensive?

In Kearney, NE, the median home is worth about $243,705, and the typical rent is about $927 a month.

How educated are people in Kearney, NE?

About 34.4% of adults age 25 and over in Kearney, NE hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Kearney, NE?

About 9.6% of people in Kearney, NE live below the federal poverty line.

Has Kearney, NE grown since 1990?

Yes, Kearney, NE has grown since 1990. The population has added about 13,216 residents, a change of about 30 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →