County · Nebraska
Kearney County, Nebraska
Kearney County, Nebraska. Kearney County had 6,790 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.6% since 2020, slower than Nebraska (+2.9%). It holds 5 places (5 cities, villages and boroughs) and 2 census tracts. GEOID 31099.
Kearney County is one of the 2 counties of the Kearney, NE micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
6,790
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 6,688 · ACS 2020-2024: 6,713
Median household income
$78,631
±$10,435 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $76,475
Median home value
$223,400
±$11,096 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $238,600
Median gross rent
$857
±$69 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $1,072
How many people live in Kearney County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 6,688 residents in Kearney County. The Census Bureau estimates 6,790 for July 1, 2025, up 1.6% since 2020, slower than Nebraska (+2.9%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 6,713 over 516 square miles of land.
| Measure | Kearney County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,713 | 1,978,707 | +184 |
| Households | 2,814±86 | 797,847 | +148 |
| Average household size | 2.36±0.07 | 2.42 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,988±21 | 863,444 | no clear change |
Kearney County's population since 2000
From 6,882 in 2000 to 6,790 in 2025: down 1.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Kearney County?
Kearney County holds 5 places: 5 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Minden with 3,133 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Kearney County?
The median resident of Kearney County is 40.2 years old; 24.8% are under 18 and 20.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 90.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 6.8%. 1.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Kearney County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2±1.9 | 37.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.8%±0.4 pts | 24.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.5%±0.3 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.8% | 12.7% | +0.5 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 90.8%±0.5 pts | 75.3% | −1.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.4 pts | 2.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.5%±0.7 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.6%±1.0 pts | 8.0% | −2.4 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.2%±2.2 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.7%±2.0 pts | 6.9% | – |
| With a disability | 9.5%±1.7 pts | 12.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.1%±1.8 pts | 7.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.9%±2.3 pts | 92.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 34.5%±3.8 pts | 34.6% | +7.8 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.3%±1.7 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.7%±1.2 pts | 2.4% | – |
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 County earn?
Half of Kearney County's 2,814 households earn less than $78,631 a year (±$10,435), against $76,475 in Nebraska. In 2015-2019 it was $74,169 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Kearney County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $78,631±$10,435 | $76,475 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $109,259±$10,784 | $102,399 | – |
| Per capita income | $42,943±$3,773 | $41,751 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 7.2%±2.8 pts | 10.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 8.0%±7.0 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 3.9%±1.9 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.0%±3.0 pts | 90.6% | – |
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 County?
Owners occupy 77.5% of Kearney County's occupied homes and renters 22.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $223,400 by its owner (±$11,096). The median renter pays $857 a month including utilities, and 21.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Kearney County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $223,400±$11,096 | $238,600 | +$39,165 |
| Median gross rent | $857±$69 | $1,072 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 21.4%±10.5 pts | 35.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,575±$200 | $1,736 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 77.5%±3.8 pts | 66.5% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,988±21 | 863,444 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±1.1 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±3.9 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 90.6%±2.7 pts | 71.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 5.0%±2.1 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.1%±1.0 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 28.7%±4.2 pts | 18.7% | – |
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 County building?
Builders took permits for 10 new housing units across Kearney County in 2025 (10 single-family), 1.5 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Kearney County get to work?
80.9% of Kearney County's workers drive alone and 8.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 1.7%.
| Measure | Kearney County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 69.3%±2.3 pts | 68.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.7%±1.1 pts | 3.0% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 80.9%±3.4 pts | 76.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.5%±2.7 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.3%±0.4 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 1.3%±1.0 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.0%±2.9 pts | 11.0% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.3 min±2.0 | 19.2 min | +3.2 min |
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 are Kearney County's census tracts?
Kearney County is divided into 2 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $69,074 (Tract 9667) to $88,269 (Tract 9666).
| Tract 966631099966600 | 3,488±149 | $88,269 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 966731099966700 | 3,225±149 | $69,074 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Kearney County compare with Nebraska's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 43rd of 93 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 25th of 93 |
| Residents per square mile | 36th of 93 |
| Median household income | 15th of 93 |
| Median home value | 13th of 93 |
| Median gross rent | 32nd of 93 |
| Poverty rate | 73rd of 92 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7th of 93 |
| Median age | 72nd of 93 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 County 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' school search.