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City Report · NE

Kearney

Pop. 34,246·4th most expensive in Nebraska·Rental market data updated monthly for Kearney, NE
Median rent (all units)
$1,515/mo
Year-over-Year
-0.5%
Month-over-Month
+4.4%
vs US Median
-$447
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Kearney · $1,515
More affordable than 75% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
26% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,515/mo, rent takes about 26% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$61,000/yr
Local median income
$69,724/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Kearney's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$655
1 BR
$785
2 BR
$950
3 BR
$1,265
4 BR+
$1,595
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$950/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,515 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$18,180/yr
At $1,515/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 0.5% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (-0.5% YoY, +4.4% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

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.

Population
34,246
Median income
$69,724
Median age
32.8
Renters
39.4%
Age distribution
20.8%
31.9%
21.5%
16.2%
Under 1820.8%
18–3431.9%
35–5421.5%
55–649.6%
65+16.2%
Gender
49.5%
50.5%
Male49.5%
Female50.5%
Race & ethnicity
84.4%
White84.4%
Black1.3%
Hispanic11.4%
Asian2.4%
Other0.6%
Education (25+)
24.7%
32.8%
36.5%
No HS diploma6%
HS diploma24.7%
Some college32.8%
Bachelor's+36.5%
Housing tenure
60.6%
39.4%
Owner60.6%
Renter39.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Kearney, NE has changed in 5 years

Income
$62,695 → $69,724
up 11.2%
Population
33,558 → 34,246
up 2.1%
Renter share
39.7% → 39.4%
-0.3 pts
Bachelor's+
37.9% → 36.5%
-1.4 pts
Median age
32.1 → 32.8
+0.7 yrs

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.

Community

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View Kearney rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Kearney on your salary?

At $1,515/mo, how Kearney rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Kearney rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Kearney. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Kearney

About renting in Kearney, NE

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Kearney is $1,515/mo as of August 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 26% of local median household income ($69,724/yr), Kearney ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Kearney an affordable city for renters?

Kearney is considered affordable for renters. At $1,515/mo, rent takes approximately 26% of the local median household income ($69,724/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Kearney falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Kearney?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $61,000/year (~$29/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,515/mo in Kearney. The local median household income is $69,724/yr, meaning the typical Kearney household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Kearney?

Rent in Kearney has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.5% change year over year as of August 2026.

Which Kearney neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Kearney are 68845 ($1,526/mo), and 68847 ($1,600/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Kearney is $1,515/mo.

How does Kearney rent compare to other cities in Nebraska?

Kearney is one of the pricier cities in Nebraska for rent, ranking #4 out of 14 tracked cities at $1,515/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Kearney?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Kearney ($1,515/mo): Grand Island ($1,296/mo), Lexington ($1,319/mo).

What percentage of Kearney residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 39.4% of Kearney households are renters, while 60.6% are owner-occupied. Kearney leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Kearney rent compare to the national average?

Kearney's median rent of $1,515/mo is $447 (23%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Nebraska, it ranks #4 out of 14 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
26%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,515/mo, rent takes ~26% of Kearney's median household income ($69,724/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Kearney 26%Benchmark 30%
State income tax2.46–5.84%
Run the Kearney affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Kearney
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Kearney, NE

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