Kearney is a small city of 10,491 in Missouri, with a median household income of $99,969
and a 1.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Kearney stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Kearney is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Kearney city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 93.3
Kearney's overall cost of living index is 93.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Kearney costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Kearney, MO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$266,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,035
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
77.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$99,969
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Kearney's violent crime rate is 213.0 per 100,000 residents
— 44% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
213.0 /100k
Property Crime
612.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Kearney is served primarily by KEARNEY R-I.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Kearney, MO
National Avg
School District
KEARNEY R-I
—
Elementary Schools
5
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
35.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Kearney sees average highs of 38.1°F in January
and 88.0°F in July,
with 41.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 19.4 inches of snow per year.
Kearney's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Kearney roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $266,400 and median rent is $1,035/month.
Kearney's violent crime rate is 213.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 612.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Kearney are operated by KEARNEY R-I.
The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 35.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Kearney, MO has a population of 10,491, a median household income of $99,969, and an unemployment rate of 1.4%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Kearney averages 38.1°F in January and 88.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.2 inches
with about 19.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Kearney, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 64060.
The population of Kearney, Missouri is 10,491 with a median age of 37.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Kearney: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $266,400, median household income $99,969, crime index 45 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kearney side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
