Population
6,790
2025
+1.5% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Kearney County, NE: population growth, jobs and income
Kearney County gained 27 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.4%).
Kearney County had an estimated 6,790 residents in 2025, up 1.5% (100 more people) since 2020. That is slower than Nebraska as a whole (+2.8%), and the 25th fastest growth of 81 counties in Nebraska.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Kearney County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Kearney County, ranked against Nebraska and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$857/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes5.8%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months162025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
+13
2025
1.9 per 1,000 residents
+20 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
2.5%
2025
+0.0 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
10
2025
1.5 per 1,000 residents
Small base: the change swings on a few homes or people, so we don't show it.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$78,631
2020–24
+25.0% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
1,627
2023
−0.9% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration added 13 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Private employers had 1,627 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −0.9% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 2.5% in 2025.
Builders were authorized to start 10 new homes in 2025, or 1.5 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $78,631 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +25.0% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 1,432nd.
Part of the Kearney, NE micro area.
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Kearney County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6,790 | +27 |
| 2024 | 6,763 | +31 |
| 2023 | 6,732 | +45 |
| 2022 | 6,687 | −1 |
| 2021 | 6,688 | −2 |
| 2020 | 6,690 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Kearney County
Kearney County grew by 100 people since 2020; the largest part came from international migration (+47).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | +6 | +33 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +6 | +47 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +13 | +20 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +2 | +0 | |
| Total change | +27 | +100 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Nebraska | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 25th of 81 | 1,432nd of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 29th of 81 | 1,570th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 45th of 80 | 2,007th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 14th of 81 | 640th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 22nd of 81 | 129th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 50th of 81 | 1,814th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Kearney County, NE as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Kearney County's population change (+1.5%) was ahead of 5 of its 6 neighbouring counties and behind 1 (Buffalo County).
Its median household income ($78,631, 2020–24) is higher than in all 6 of its neighbouring counties.
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kearney County, NE This county | 6,790 | +1.5% | 1.9 | 1.5 | $78,631 |
| Franklin County, NE | 2,795 | −3.1% | −5.0 | 1.4 | $60,195 |
| Buffalo County, NE | 51,172 | +1.9% | −2.0 | 2.6 | $75,911 |
| Adams County, NE | 31,071 | −0.3% | −4.9 | 3.8 | $68,365 |
| Phelps County, NE | 8,994 | +0.2% | −4.6 | 1.0 | $68,919 |
| Harlan County, NE | 3,000 | −1.9% | 1.0 | 0.3 | $70,625 |
| Webster County, NE | 3,336 | −1.6% | 9.3 | 1.8 | $64,347 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Kearney County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 1.5% between 2020 and 2025, about 100 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Nebraska as a whole changed +2.8% over the same years. That ranks 25th of 81 counties in Nebraska for population growth.
How many people moved to Kearney County?
On net, about 13 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Kearney County?
It averaged 2.5% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Kearney County?
About 6,790 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Kearney County?
Private employers there had 1,627 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −0.9% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Nebraska
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Nebraska county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Kearney County data alerts
Email me when Kearney County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.