Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Kearney, NE

    Is Kearney a good place to live?

    Watch Kearney

    Kearney ranks #2 of 8 Nebraska cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (57/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.6% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $235,800
    +7.8% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $922
    per month
    Household income
    $69,790
    median
    Unemployment
    3.2%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Kearney

    The median home value in Kearney is $235,800 and median rent is $922 a month, against a median household income of $69,790. Homes cost about 3.4× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Kearney crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Nebraska the 2025 rate was 223 violent and 1,404 property crimes per 100,000 people — #32 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Kearney, NE

    Kearney has about 34,024 residents, 3.2% unemployment and 24% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Kearney with

    Kearney vs OmahaKearney vs LincolnKearney vs BellevueKearney vs Grand IslandKearney vs FremontKearney vs NorfolkKearney vs Hastings

    More: Where to move in Nebraska · Best counties in Nebraska

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report