City profile
Kearney, NE
Safe, friendly college town on the Platte River.
Climate
Climate type
Four seasons
Winter avg
24°F
Summer avg
76°F
Sunny days / yr
215
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$270,000
Typical monthly housing
$1,978
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
88
Taxes
- Property tax
- 1.54%
- State income tax (top)
- 5.2%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Taxed
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 6.97%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Low · county score 66/100
Top hazards: Hail, Strong wind, Drought
Nearest major airport
171 mi to Eppley Airfield (OMA)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Republican · 26% Democratic / 72% Republican
Demographics (Census ACS)
Population (2024)
34,246
Growth since 2019
+2.3%
Median age
32.8
Residents 65+
16.4%
Median household income
$69,724
Income growth since 2019
+22.2%
Black household income
$50,188
Home ownership
60.6%
Poverty rate
12.4%
Poverty rate, 65+
10.7%
Race & ethnicity: Black 1.1% · White 81.5% · Hispanic 11.4% · Asian 2.4% · Other 3.7%
Crime (per 100,000 residents, 2025)
Violent crime
229 · 31% below the national average
Property crime
1,221 · 21% below the national average
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, Kearney Police Department. State average: violent 223, property 1,404.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸Home insurance premiums are rising quickly here
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: hail, tornadoes
Highlights
- Very safe
- Affordable
- University of Nebraska at Kearney
Trade-offs
- Very far from a major airport
- Very small Black community
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.