City · Missouri
Kearney, Missouri
Kearney, city, in Clay County, Missouri. Kearney had 11,296 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 8.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 10,404 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 10,885 (±26). GEOID 2938072.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
11,296
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 10,404 · ACS 2020-2024: 10,885 ±26
Median household income
$103,622
±$11,158 (90% margin)
Missouri: $70,702
Median home value
$298,400
±$20,440 (90% margin)
Missouri: $230,300
Median gross rent
$1,251
±$185 (90% margin)
Missouri: $1,033
Where is Kearney and what county is it in?
Kearney is a city in Clay County, Missouri. It covers 13.3 square miles of land, 780 residents per square mile in 2020.
Kearney is in the Kansas City, MO-KS metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 14 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Kearney, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 11,296 people lived in Kearney on July 1, 2025, up 8.6% since 2020, faster than Missouri (+1.9%). The 2020 Census counted 10,404 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 10,885 (±26).
| Measure | Kearney | Clay County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 10,885 ±26 | 258,122 | +790 |
| Households | 4,316 ±235 | 102,171 | +981 |
| Average household size | 2.51 ±0.14 | 2.50 | −0.52 |
| Housing units | 4,406 ±254 | 107,719 | +686 |
Kearney's population since 2000
From 5,472 in 2000 to 11,296 in 2025: up 106.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Kearney as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Kearney?
The median resident of Kearney is 39.3 years old; 23.7% are under 18 and 18.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.1%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.1%.
| Measure | Kearney | Clay County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 ±3.1 | 37.9 | +4.1 |
| Under 18 years | 23.7% ±2.9 pts | 23.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.1% ±2.6 pts | 15.3% | – |
| Male | 48.3% ±2.6 pts | 49.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.9% ±1.3 pts | 8.0% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 94.1% ±2.6 pts | 77.0% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.8 pts | 2.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.1% ±1.7 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.3% ±0.9 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.6% ±1.2 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.6% ±1.6 pts | 7.1% | – |
| With a disability | 11.4% ±2.6 pts | 13.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.2% ±1.2 pts | 7.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.5% ±1.6 pts | 94.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 36.8% ±4.8 pts | 36.5% | +9.0 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 14.4% ±3.9 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.9% ±5.2 pts | 87.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.3% ±0.9 pts | 2.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Kearney earn?
Half of Kearney's 4,316 households earn less than $103,622 a year (±$11,158), against $88,468 in Clay County and $70,702 in Missouri. In 2015-2019 it was $105,299 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 3.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Kearney | Clay County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $103,622 ±$11,158 | $88,468 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $128,778 ±$14,665 | $108,962 | – |
| Per capita income | $52,009 ±$5,966 | $43,986 | +$13,376 |
| People below the poverty line | 3.6% ±1.8 pts | 8.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 3.4% ±3.3 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 1.7% ±1.4 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.5% ±2.9 pts | 96.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.5% ±5.0 pts | 91.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Kearney?
Owners occupy 74.5% of Kearney's occupied homes and renters 25.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $298,400 by its owner (±$20,440). The median renter pays $1,251 a month including utilities, and 32.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Kearney | Clay County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $298,400 ±$20,440 | $275,600 | +$66,168 |
| Median gross rent | $1,251 ±$185 | $1,243 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 32.8% ±13.0 pts | 36.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,743 ±$117 | $1,757 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 74.5% ±5.4 pts | 69.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 25.5% ±5.4 pts | 30.5% | – |
| Housing units | 4,406 ±254 | 107,719 | +686 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5% ±1.0 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.4% ±7.4 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 80.3% ±4.5 pts | 71.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 4.5% ±2.0 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 24.1% ±5.4 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.4% ±2.1 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.3% ±1.7 pts | 4.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Kearney building?
Builders took permits for 38 new housing units in Kearney in 2025 (36 in single-family houses), 3.4 per 1,000 residents against 2.8 across Missouri.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Kearney work and get to work?
77.8% of Kearney's workers drive alone and 15.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.5 minutes.
| Measure | Kearney | Clay County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 71.4% ±3.3 pts | 69.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.6% ±1.8 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 77.8% ±4.3 pts | 74.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.2% ±2.2 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 0.9% ±0.8 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 15.2% ±3.8 pts | 15.9% | +11.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.5 min ±3.0 | 22.8 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Kearney?
1 census tract lies mostly in Kearney, and 4 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 218.12Clay County | 5,563 | $112,750 |
| Tract 218.06Clay County | 4,246 | $62,484 |
| Tract 218.11Clay County | 4,017 | $136,806 |
| Tract 218.09Clay County | 4,764 | $113,125 |
| Tract 218.10Clay County | 3,253 | $155,694 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Kearney) · Census block assignment files
How does Kearney compare with other places in Missouri?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Kearney is the 2,942nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 72nd-most populous of 936 in Missouri.
Kearney ranks 41st of 416 places in Missouri with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 72nd | 936 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 46th | 394 |
| Residents per square mile | 294th | 420 |
| Median household income | 41st | 416 |
| Per capita income | 33rd | 420 |
| Median home value | 53rd | 416 |
| Median gross rent | 50th | 398 |
| Poverty rate | 367th | 373 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 70th | 404 |
| Median age | 184th | 420 |
| Owner-occupied share | 126th | 418 |
| Work from home | 80th | 270 |
| Travel time to work | 179th | 420 |
Kearney's figures with every place in Missouri (CSV)
Every place in Missouri, sortable · Compare Kearney with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Kearney?
17 of the 57 figures for Kearney on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Kearney are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Kearney.