The Town FilesKenesaw, Nebraska
Village in Adams County · population 919 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $177,600
- Household income
- $92,639
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 37
- Median age
- 44.1
Kenesaw is a village of 919 people in Adams County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $177,600, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks more upscale than 94% of Nebraska towns, better for families than 92% of Nebraska towns, quieter than 79% of Nebraska towns.
How Kenesaw 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 Kenesaw is worth $177,600, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $92,639, which is more affordable than 76% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $766 a month. 91.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kenesaw | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $177,600 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $766 | $818 |
| Median household income | $92,639 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 91.1% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Kenesaw
| People | Kenesaw | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.0% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.1% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.3% | 87.8% |
Weather in Kenesaw
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 16.4°F. About 26.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.7 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kenesaw since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 2, 1999 about 4.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 23, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 111 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 21, 1998.
Severe weather in Adams County since 1996
Adams County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| June 25, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4225: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Adams County
Adams County had 15,862 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,967 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Kenesaw itself the ACS puts it at 0.2%.
Public schools in Kenesaw
2 public schools with 276 students, about 10.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| KENESAW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 145 | 12.1 |
| KENESAW SECONDARY SCHOOL | 7-12 | 131 | 8.7 |
Towns near Kenesaw
- Juniata, NE8.1 mi · 748 people · home $143,300
- Shelton, NE11.6 mi · 1,034 people · home $142,100
- Gibbon, NE13.2 mi · 1,878 people · home $173,800
- Hastings, NE14.1 mi · 25,152 people · home $184,700
- Wood River, NE14.2 mi · 1,172 people · home $151,200
- Minden, NE18.3 mi · 3,118 people · home $208,500
- Doniphan, NE18.4 mi · 809 people · home $211,100
- Alda, NE19.8 mi · 647 people · home $106,500
Kenesaw questions
Is Kenesaw, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kenesaw scores better for retirees than 58% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 79%. 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.1).
How much does a house cost in Kenesaw?
The median owner-occupied home in Kenesaw is valued at $177,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,639, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $766 a month.
What is the weather like in Kenesaw?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 16.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.4 inches of precipitation a year and 25.7 inches of snow.
Does Kenesaw get tornadoes?
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kenesaw since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 2, 1999. 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)