The Town FilesKearney, Nebraska
City in Buffalo County · population 33,790 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $244,600
- Household income
- $69,724
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 32.8
Kearney is a city of 33,790 people in Buffalo County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $244,600, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks more vibrant than 97% of Nebraska towns, better for young professionals than 96% of Nebraska towns, hipper than 86% of Nebraska towns.
How Kearney ranks
Percentile among Nebraska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Nebraska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Kearney is worth $244,600, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $69,724, which is more affordable than 4% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $949 a month. 60.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kearney | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $244,600 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $949 | $818 |
| Median household income | $69,724 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 60.6% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Kearney
| People | Kearney | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.8 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.5% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.6% | — |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 13.9 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.4% | 87.8% |
Weather in Kearney
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 25.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.8 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kearney since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 10, 1985 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 25, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 104 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on June 12, 2002.
Severe weather in Buffalo County since 1996
Buffalo County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4928: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4641: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
| March 21, 2019 | Flood | DR-4420: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Buffalo County
Buffalo County had 28,148 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,993 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Kearney itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Kearney
16 public schools with 6,118 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,654 | 18.2 |
| HORIZON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 631 | 15.4 |
| SUNRISE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 543 | 12.9 |
| NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 418 | 14.4 |
| MEADOWLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 399 | 18.1 |
| KENWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 385 | 15.4 |
| KEARNEY EDUCATION CENTER | PK-PK | 355 | 27.3 |
| BUFFALO HILLS ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 298 | 16.6 |
| PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 275 | 18.3 |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 271 | 14.3 |
| WINDY HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 255 | 17.0 |
| BRYANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 243 | 12.2 |
Towns near Kearney
- Minden, NE15.3 mi · 3,118 people · home $208,500
- Holdrege, NE23.8 mi · 5,515 people · home $198,900
Kearney questions
Is Kearney, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kearney scores better for retirees than 9% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 4%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.8).
How much does a house cost in Kearney?
The median owner-occupied home in Kearney is valued at $244,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,724, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $949 a month.
What is the weather like in Kearney?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 25.6 inches of precipitation a year and 21.8 inches of snow.
Does Kearney get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kearney since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 10, 1985. The typical Nebraska town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)