At $1,686/mo, rent takes about 29% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,686 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Kearney changed +5.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 11 Nebraska cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.2%.
Rent rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($69,724) is $1,743 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,595).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Kearney. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Kearney, NE is majority owner-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, 36.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Kearney, NE has changed in 5 years
Household income in the area moved from $62,695 to $69,724 across the same window, up 11.2% versus 2021. The population has grown by 2.1% since 2021, moving from about 33,558 residents to roughly 34,246.
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Can you afford rent in Kearney on your salary?
At $1,686/mo, how Kearney rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Kearney rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Kearney. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Kearney
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Kearney is $1,686/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $655/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $950/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $785/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,265/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($69,724/yr), Kearney ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Kearney rent compare to other cities in Nebraska?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Kearney?
At $1,686/mo, rent takes ~29% of Kearney's median household income ($69,724/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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