Population 6,713 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Kearney County
Household size in Kearney County
| Period | Kearney County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.46 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.44 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.43 | 2.51 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.35 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.11 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Kearney County is a place of small households, averaging 2.35 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.46, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Kearney County
| Period | Kearney County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.7 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.2 | 37.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.1 | 38.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.6 | 38.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.1 | +0.9 | +2.3 |
Kearney County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 41.6, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 42.7, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the north.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Kearney County
| Period | Kearney County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.7% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.1% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Kearney County (10.1%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Nebraska. The single-parent share has risen 2.8 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Kearney County
Renters in Kearney County
| Period | Kearney County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.6% | 31.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.9% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.9% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.5% | 33.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Kearney County is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than four in ten owners (45.0%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 1.9 points, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Kearney County
| Period | Kearney County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.3% | 7.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Kearney County: 7.3% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy is down 1.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Kearney County has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Nebraska counties.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Kearney County
| Period | Kearney County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1959 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1961 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1963 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +6 |
Kearney County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1963, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1959 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the northeast.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Kearney County
| Period | Kearney County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $537 | $730 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $724 | $805 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $690 | $911 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $875 | $1,159 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$338 | +$429 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Kearney County costs $875 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $338 a month since 2006–10, up 63%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 22.7% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the west.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Kearney County
Bachelor's degrees in Kearney County
| Period | Kearney County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.4% | 29.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.0% | 30.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.3% | 32.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.0% | 34.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.6 pts | +5.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Kearney County (34.0%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 9.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Few Nebraska counties have a higher share of college graduates: only seven of 93.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Kearney County
| Period | Kearney County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.3% | 90.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.2% | 90.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.3% | 91.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.4% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +1.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Kearney County is above the national rate: 93.4% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national rate rose.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Kearney County
| Period | Kearney County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.9% | 5.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.8% | 5.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.5% | 3.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.8% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Kearney County has been strong: just 1.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Kearney County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kearney County | 2.35 | 41.6 | 10.1% | 22.5% | 7.3% | 1963 | $875 | 34.0% | 93.4% | 1.8% |
| Phelps County | 2.29 | 40.1 | 7.0% | 31.7% | 6.3% | 1966 | $792 | 29.7% | 93.1% | 1.0% |
| Adams County | 2.36 | 40.0 | 13.6% | 30.3% | 6.7% | 1966 | $872 | 30.3% | 92.3% | 2.4% |
| Gosper County | 2.42 | 47.8 | 2.8% | 19.0% | 27.7% | 1973 | $798 | 27.9% | 97.8% | 2.3% |
| Clay County | 2.42 | 41.3 | 9.4% | 18.1% | 11.4% | 1954 | $681 | 22.8% | 93.3% | 1.8% |
| Frontier County | 2.29 | 44.3 | 6.3% | 26.0% | 20.6% | 1956 | $651 | 25.8% | 93.8% | 2.6% |
| Fillmore County | 2.32 | 46.4 | 5.7% | 19.6% | 13.5% | 1958 | $660 | 23.7% | 95.8% | 0.4% |
| Saline County | 2.74 | 37.6 | 13.3% | 24.1% | 10.8% | 1961 | $800 | 21.3% | 81.9% | 2.7% |
| Hayes County | 2.24 | 47.3 | 3.7% | 32.1% | 22.6% | 1946 | $508 | 19.8% | 95.0% | 0.0% |
| Chase County | 2.49 | 45.7 | 4.1% | 20.9% | 21.8% | 1961 | $807 | 23.7% | 89.5% | 1.9% |
| Johnson County | 2.50 | 42.3 | 9.3% | 32.8% | 18.7% | 1952 | $746 | 18.1% | 87.3% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Washburn County, WI · Buffalo County, SD · Burke County, ND · Burt County, NE · Union County, KY · Vermillion County, IN · Vinton County, OH · Walsh County, ND · Walthall County, MS · Ward County, TX
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Kearney County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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