What are the schools like in Kearney, NE?

Kearney is served primarily by KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district operates 10 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.5:1.

What is the median household income in Kearney?

The median household income in Kearney, NE is $66,843 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.9%.

What is the weather like in Kearney, NE?

Kearney has an average high temperature of 35.9°F in January and 86.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 26.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 21.8 inches.

Kearney, NE Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Kearney, NE affordable or expensive?

Kearney's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Kearney is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $218,800 and the median rent is $897 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Kearney, NE?

Kearney has a violent crime rate of 301.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1624.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Kearney, NE a Good Place to Live?

Kearney is a small city of 33,809 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $66,843 and a 2.9% 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, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

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: 93.2

Kearney's overall cost of living index is 93.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Kearney costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Kearney, NE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$218,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$897	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	60.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$66,843	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Kearney's violent crime rate is 301.2 per 100,000 residents — 21% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

301.2 /100k

Property Crime

1624.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Kearney is served primarily by KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Kearney, NE	National Avg
School District	KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	—
Elementary Schools	10	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	37.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Kearney sees average highs of 35.9°F in January and 86.6°F in July, with 26.2 inches of annual precipitation and 21.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Kearney, NE
Average High — January	35.9°F
Average High — July	86.6°F
Annual Precipitation	26.2"
Annual Snowfall	21.8"

Demographics

Metric	Kearney, NE	National Avg
Population	33,809	—
Median Age	31.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	14.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	86.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.1%	18.9%
Asian	2.2%	6.3%
Under 18	20.8%	22.2%
65 and over	15.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Glenwood, NE 4 mi Riverdale, NE 7 mi Odessa, NE 9 mi Gibbon, NE 13 mi Amherst, NE 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Kearney

Kearney, NE is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

68847 68845 68849

Kearney vs Other Cities

Kearney, NE vs Glenwood, NE Kearney, NE vs Riverdale, NE Kearney, NE vs Odessa, NE Kearney, NE vs Gibbon, NE Kearney, NE vs Amherst, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kearney, NE affordable or expensive?

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 $218,800 and median rent is $897/month.

What is the crime rate in Kearney, NE?

Kearney's violent crime rate is 301.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1624.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Kearney?

Public schools in Kearney are operated by KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district has 10 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1. 37.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Kearney, NE a good place to live?

Kearney, NE has a population of 33,809, a median household income of $66,843, and an unemployment rate of 2.9%. 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.

What is the weather like in Kearney?

Kearney averages 35.9°F in January and 86.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.2 inches with about 21.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Kearney?

Kearney, NE is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 68847, 68845, 68849.

What is the population of Kearney?

The population of Kearney, Nebraska is 33,809 with a median age of 31.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Kearney?

Key numbers for living in Kearney: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $218,800, median household income $66,843, crime index 79 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. 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.