Kearney County, Nebraska Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Kearney County is located in Nebraska with a total population of 6,697. It is the 43rd most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kearney County is 40.3 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 37.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Kearney County is $79,167. This is 6% higher than the state median of $74,985. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is about average. The poverty rate stands at 6.7%. This is 35% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.3%. The unemployment rate is 1.4%. This is 53% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $218,300. Housing costs are 2% lower than the state median of $223,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Kearney County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% higher than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Kearney County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.5%. The Black or African American population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

32.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Kearney County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 4% lower than the state rate of 34.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.0%.