Kearney

Population: 34,024
Median household income: $69,790
Median home value: $235,800

Located in Buffalo County, Nebraska, Kearney is a community with a population of 34,024. Its median household income of $69,790 runs below the Buffalo County figure of $74,570.

From 2019 to 2023, Kearney's population grew 1.7% from 33,464 to 34,024, while its median home value rose 31.8% from $178,900 to $235,800.

The largest age group is 18 to 24, 18.8% of residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents are the largest group, 82.4% of the population.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 34,024
Median age: 32.4 yrs
Median household income: $69,790
Median home value: $235,800
Median gross rent: $922
Housing units: 14,652
Homeownership rate: 59.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 36.9%
Unemployment rate: 3.2%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

33,46434,024

Median household income

$57,064$69,790

Median home value

$178,900$235,800

Median gross rent

$767$922

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	33,464	$57,064	$178,900	$767
2020	33,783	$60,755	$188,800	$793
2021	33,558	$62,695	$192,200	$855
2022	33,809	$66,843	$218,800	$897
2023	34,024	$69,790	$235,800	$922

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 55.8%

5 to 1715.2%

18 to 2418.8%

25 to 3413.3%

35 to 4412.9%

45 to 548.8%

55 to 649.4%

65 to 749.1%

75 and over6.7%

	Count	Share
Under 5	1,960	5.8%
5 to 17	5,181	15.2%
18 to 24	6,390	18.8%
25 to 34	4,510	13.3%
35 to 44	4,391	12.9%
45 to 54	2,996	8.8%
55 to 64	3,215	9.4%
65 to 74	3,103	9.1%
75 and over	2,278	6.7%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	28,028	82.4%
Black or African American	388	1.1%
American Indian & Alaska Native	113	0.3%
Asian	794	2.3%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	12	0.0%
Some other race	94	0.3%
Two or more races	793	2.3%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3,802	11.2%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma6.7%

High school graduate24.2%

Some college or associate's32.3%

Bachelor's degree23.8%

Graduate or professional degree13.1%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	1,370	6.7%
High school graduate	4,956	24.2%
Some college or associate's	6,614	32.3%
Bachelor's degree	4,872	23.8%
Graduate or professional degree	2,681	13.1%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 14 min

Drove alone83.3%

Carpooled9.3%

Public transit0.3%

Walked1.8%

Bicycle0.2%

Worked from home4.2%

Other means0.9%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	15,653	83.3%
Carpooled	1,747	9.3%
Public transit	49	0.3%
Walked	345	1.8%
Bicycle	43	0.2%
Worked from home	786	4.2%
Other means	165	0.9%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	13,457	74.8%
15 to 29 min	2,446	13.6%
30 to 44 min	758	4.2%
45 to 59 min	550	3.1%
60+ min	791	4.4%

Households

Average household size: 2.34
Poverty rate: 13.9% (4,481 of 32,160)

	Count	Share
Family households	7,610	55.5%
Nonfamily households	6,113	44.5%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1981

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	13,723	93.7%
Vacant	929	6.3%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	8,104	59.1%
Renter-occupied	5,619	40.9%

1-unit, detached57.0%

1-unit, attached6.8%

2 to 4 units10.7%

5 to 19 units11.9%

20 or more units8.1%

Mobile home & other5.5%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	8,354	57.0%
1-unit, attached	999	6.8%
2 to 4 units	1,574	10.7%
5 to 19 units	1,738	11.9%
20 or more units	1,186	8.1%
Mobile home & other	801	5.5%

Geography

Place GEOID: 3125055
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 15 sq mi
Water area: 0.27 sq mi
Center point: 40.7017, -99.0823