Best Life Index › States › Nebraska › Cities › Kearney

Nebraska city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Kearney?

What it costs to live in Kearney, and how it compares with other Nebraska cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

46

6th best value in Nebraska

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Nebraska cities.

Overall livability

58

4th overall in Nebraska

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Kearney is home to about 33,558 people. A typical home runs $192,200 and a household earns around $62,700, a price-to-income ratio of 3.1. Among Nebraska's largest cities, it ranks 6th for value and 4th overall.

Kearney at a glance

Median home price

$192,200

10th in NE of 12

Median rent

$855/mo

Median household income

$62,700

Home price to income

3.1x

Unemployment

2.5%

3rd in NE of 12

School rating

5/10

4th in NE of 12

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NE of 12

Walk score

2/100

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‹ See all top Nebraska cities ranked  ยท  Nebraska state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Nebraska only. Updated 2026.