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Buffalo County, NE
12 cities and towns and 11 ZIP codes in Buffalo County, Nebraska.
Population
50,579
Land area
968sq mi
People per sq mi
52
ZIP codes
11
Cities and towns in Buffalo County
Buffalo County at a glance
- Buffalo County is about 2 times as dense as Nebraska as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 5th among 93 counties in Nebraska.
- The median household income is $75,911, close to the Nebraska median.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $246,400 (3% above Nebraska) and median rent is $936 a month.
- Its largest cities are Kearney (34,246), Gibbon (1,763) and Shelton (1,389).
Local data for Buffalo County, NE
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals2
- Emergency Rooms2
- Nursing Homes5
- Schools32
- Colleges1
- Libraries5
- Banks27
- Post Offices3
- Parks27
- Grocery Stores20
- Restaurants154
- Affordable Housing8
- Home Health Agencies2
- Hospice Care2
- Dialysis Centers1
- Rehab & Long-Term Care Hospitals1
- Community Health Centers2
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment2
- Private Schools4
- Toxic Release Facilities7
- Historic Places17
Housing and community stats
Buffalo County, NE, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$75,911
Poverty rate
9.9%
Median home value
$246,400
Prices +2.0% in a year
Median rent
$936/mo
Homeownership
66.4%
Bachelor's or higher
34.4%
Median age
35.1
Average commute
16.0 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (18,702), Irish Americans (6,616), Mexican Americans (3,715).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
2.2%
Sep 2026, -0.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$53,848
28,130 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$72,681
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$365M
FY 2026, $7,285 per person
PPP loans
$143M
3,310 loans, 18,137 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$197K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Buffalo County, NE, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone81.3%
- Carpooled10.5%
- Public transit0.2%
- Walked2.1%
- Bicycle0.4%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.8%
- Worked from home4.7%
Average one-way commute: 16.0 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Buffalo County, NE, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
858
Most often hail
Flood insurance policies
119
0.6% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
87° / 14°F
25.6 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone17 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Buffalo County, NE, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.3%
U.S. 33.3% +4.0 pts
Diabetes
9.6%
U.S. 12.1% -2.5 pts
Smoking
12.2%
U.S. 12.8% -0.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.2%
U.S. 11.1% -1.9 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Buffalo County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Buffalo County, NE?
- Kearney is the largest city or town in Buffalo County, with about 34,246 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Buffalo County?
- Buffalo County includes 11 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 68812, 68836, 68840, 68845, 68847.
- What is the population of Buffalo County, NE?
- About 50,579 people live in Buffalo County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Buffalo County?
- Buffalo County borders Hall County, Adams County, Dawson County, Custer County, Phelps County, Kearney County, Howard County, Sherman County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023