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Kearney, NE
City in Buffalo County, Nebraska. ZIP codes: 68849.
Population
34,246
Land area
15sq mi
People per sq mi
2,277
ZIP codes
1
Kearney and its ZIP codes
Kearney at a glance
- Kearney is about 88 times as dense as Nebraska as a whole.
- It is the 5th most populous of 583 cities and towns in Nebraska.
- Households here earn a median of $69,724 a year, 9% less than the Nebraska figure of $76,475.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $244,600 and median rent is $949 a month.
Local data for Kearney, NE
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Kearney, NE, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$69,724
Poverty rate
12.4%
Median home value
$244,600
Median rent
$949/mo
Homeownership
60.6%
Bachelor's or higher
36.5%
Median age
32.8
Average commute
13.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (12,307), Irish Americans (4,638), Mexican Americans (2,761).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Buffalo County. PPP loans are for Kearney.
Unemployment rate
2.5%
Aug 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
$30.76K
1 loan, 2 jobs reported
How people get to work
Kearney, NE, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone80.8%
- Carpooled10.7%
- Public transit0.3%
- Walked2.2%
- Bicycle0.5%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.0%
- Worked from home4.5%
Average one-way commute: 13.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Kearney, NE, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
858
Countywide, mostly 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 zone13 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Kearney, NE, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.4%
U.S. 33.3% +4.1 pts
Diabetes
8.9%
U.S. 12.1% -3.2 pts
Smoking
12.4%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
9.6%
U.S. 11.1% -1.5 pts
ZIP codes in Kearney
1 in or overlapping Kearney. Population shown
Cities near Kearney
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| GlenwoodCensus-designated place | 3.5 mi | 2.4 |
| RiverdaleVillage | 6.8 mi | 0.3 |
| OdessaCensus-designated place | 9.1 mi | 1.8 |
| GibbonCity | 13 mi | 0.9 |
| AmherstVillage | 14 mi | 0.2 |
| Elm CreekVillage | 15 mi | 0.7 |
| MindenCity | 15 mi | 2.2 |
| AxtellVillage | 15 mi | 0.5 |
| HeartwellVillage | 18 mi | 0.1 |
| PleasantonVillage | 18 mi | 0.3 |
| FunkVillage | 19 mi | 0.3 |
| SheltonVillage | 19 mi | 1 |
| PooleCensus-designated place | 20 mi | 2.7 |
| NormanVillage | 22 mi | 0.1 |
| MillerVillage | 22 mi | 0.4 |
| KenesawVillage | 23 mi | 1.1 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Kearney, NE in?
- Kearney is in Buffalo County, Nebraska.
- What ZIP codes are in Kearney, NE?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Kearney include 68849.
- What is the population of Kearney, NE?
- About 34,246 people live in Kearney, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Kearney?
- Nearby places include Glenwood (3.5 mi), Riverdale (6.8 mi), Odessa (9.1 mi), Gibbon (13 mi), Amherst (14 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023