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Neighborhood report

Kearney, NE

Buffalo CountyElev. 656 m
Population
34,024
Median home
$235,800
Disaster risk
Relatively Low
Public schools
16
Sex offenders
5

Overview

About Kearney

With about 34,024 residents, Kearney is one of Nebraska's notable places. Kearney sits in Buffalo County. The median age is 32.4 and the median household income is $69,790. Homes carry a median value of $235,800, and about 59% of residents own where they live. White residents make up the largest share of the population (82.4%). Around 37% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the typical commute runs about 14 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

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Who lives here

Demographics

Population
34,024
Median age
32.4
Median household income
$69,790
Per-capita income
$36,753
Poverty rate
13.9%
High-school grad or higher
93.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher
36.9%
Unemployment
3.2%
Avg. commute
14.2 min
Work from home
4.2%
Residents by race & ethnicity
White82.4%
Hispanic or Latino11.2%
Black1.1%
Asian2.3%
Workforce by occupation
Management, business, science & arts36.3%
Sales & office25.9%
Service16.2%
Production, transportation & material moving13.9%
Natural resources, construction & maintenance7.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

Housing

Property report

Median home value
$235,800
Median gross rent
$922/mo
Owner-occupied
59.1%
Median year built
1981
Households
13,723
Avg. household size
2.34

Area-level figures. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS (5-year). Parcel-level records coming next.

Education

Schools

Schools: Average

Kearney has 16 public schools — 10 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high.

Student proficiency · grade 8, 2 schools
Reading57%
Math55%

% of students at or above proficient on state assessments.

HANNY ARRAM CENTERHighGrades 6–12
KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOLHighGrades 9–12
WEST KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOLHighGrades 8–12
HORIZON MIDDLE SCHOOLMiddleGrades 6–8
SUNRISE MIDDLE SCHOOLMiddleGrades 6–8
BRYANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLElementaryGrades -1–5
BUFFALO HILLS ELEMENTARYElementaryGrades -1–5
CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLElementaryGrades -1–5
EMERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLElementaryGrades -1–5
GLENWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLElementaryGrades -1–5
KENWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLElementaryGrades -1–5
MEADOWLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOLElementaryGrades -1–5
NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLElementaryGrades -1–5
PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOLElementaryGrades -1–5

Public schools + grade-8 proficiency. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES directory + EDFacts assessments), via Urban Institute.

Safety

Crime

violent crime21% below national
Kearney305
Nebraska199
United States386
↑ 65% higher than 2019
2019–2023
property crime5% below national
Kearney1,856
Nebraska1,611
United States1,952
↑ 2% higher than 2019
2019–2023

Rate per 100,000 residents/year, Kearney Police Department, 2023. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS (Crime Data Explorer).

Environment

Environmental hazards

Toxic-release sites and regulated facilities in and around Kearney.

Data source being added: U.S. EPA — Toxics Release Inventory (public). We show real, sourced figures only — never estimates.

Risk

Natural disaster risk

Relatively Low
Top hazards · Buffalo County
HailRelatively High
Strong windRelatively High
DroughtRelatively Moderate
Ice stormRelatively Moderate
LightningRelatively Moderate
TornadoRelatively Moderate

County-level natural-hazard risk. Source: FEMA National Risk Index.

Context

Neighborhood info

Kearney is in Buffalo County — see county-wide risk, demographics, and registry.

Kearney sits in Buffalo County. Elevation ~656 m.

Population trend
35K19K34,02420002024
Map of Kearney
Kearney, NE
Where Kearney is
OmahaLincolnBellevueGrand IslandKearneyFremont
Historic places

14 on the National Register of Historic Places.

Barnd, John, HouseHanson-Downing HouseThomas, Dr. A. O., HouseU.S. Post OfficeFrank, George W., HouseSaint Luke's Protestant Episcopal ChurchKlehm HouseKearney Junior High School
Notable people from Kearney
Peter George PetersonAndy PessoaDale E. WolfStephen R. LawheadJon BokenkampCody WhitehairKermit DriscollJames A. LakeAlice I. BryanDavid Martin
People searches in Kearney
Michael Smith (5)John Smith (5)James Smith (4)David SmithRobert SmithMichael JohnsonJohn JohnsonJames JohnsonMichael WilliamsWilliam SmithDavid JohnsonRobert JohnsonJohn WilliamsMichael BrownMichael JonesJames WilliamsDavid WilliamsJohn BrownRobert WilliamsJohn JonesWilliam JohnsonMary SmithJames BrownJames Jones
Nearby cities
Holdrege (24 mi)Lexington (35 mi)Hastings (37 mi)Grand Island (41 mi)Cozad (49 mi)Aurora (57 mi)

Public records

Incarceration records — Buffalo County

Most-recorded names in Buffalo County booking & incarceration records:

Michael Anderson (2)Alyssa Young (1)Andre Hill (1)Anthony Adams (1)Audun Green (1)Austin Harris (1)Bruce Garcia (1)Carl Taylor (1)Colten Wright (1)Cory Anderson (1)Crystal Williams (1)Dalton Olexo (1)Daniel Martinez (1)Daniel Rodriguez (1)David Whiteface (1)Dustin Williamson (1)Felipe Ramirez (1)Harley Lewis (1)Jamaul Williams (1)Jamiee Williams (1)Jason Jones (1)Jayme Hernandez (1)Jeffrey Johnson (1)Jonathon Anderson (1)

Names with the most public booking/incarceration records in the county. Source: state & county correctional rosters (first-party).

Registered sex offenders in Kearney, NE (5)

Public sex-offender registry records for Kearney, Nebraska.

Kenneth Wayne Wilson, 30
Kearney · Buffalo County · 68845
AKA Kenneth W Wilson
Chris Montreal Wilson, 48
Kearney · Buffalo County · 68847
AKA Christopher Montreal Tinker, Chris M Wilson
William Tyrone Harris, 50
Kearney · 68847
Michael Hubert White, 50
Kearney · Buffalo County · 68847
AKA Michael H White
James William Youngblood Jr, 49
Kearney · Buffalo County · 68845
AKA James W Youngblood, James William Youngblood

Source: Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and state registries. Public record. This information is provided for public awareness. Using it to harass, threaten, or discriminate against any registrant, or for any purpose prohibited by law, is illegal. Verify against the official registry record before relying on it.

Common questions

Kearney — frequently asked

What is the population of Kearney, Nebraska?
Kearney has a population of about 34,024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year).
What is the average home value in Kearney?
The median home value in Kearney is $235,800, and the median gross rent is $922/month (U.S. Census ACS).
Is Kearney safe? What is the crime rate?
Kearney Police Department reported a violent-crime rate of about 305 per 100,000 residents in 2023 — lower than the U.S. rate of 386. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS.
What natural-disaster risks does Kearney face?
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Buffalo County as "Relatively Low" overall, with top hazards including hail, strong wind, drought.
How many schools are in Kearney?
Kearney has 16 public schools (10 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, NCES.
How many registered sex offenders are in Kearney?
Public registry data lists 5 registered sex offenders in or near Kearney. This is neighborhood-safety information from the public state registry.
Look up a person in Kearney →