Kearney, NE — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

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Buffalo County · Kearney · population 34,741

Kearney, NE
Image: Wikipedia · Kearney, Nebraska
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
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75
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Kearney stands

At or near all-time high. home values up 6.5% in the last year. rents up 10.9% in the last year.

Median home $314,446
1-year +6.5%
5-yr CAGR +6.5%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population +0.7%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$314k$181k$230k$278k$327k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
32/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
22/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
85/100
Excellent for remote work
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$1,454/mo$1,184$1,363$1,54220242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent10911310020242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 18.0
Lean buy

At a 18.0 price-to-rent ratio, Kearney is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
80 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
72 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
59 · w16%
Rent YoY
85 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
60 · w10%
Long thesis

Kearney has held up across the cycle: home values at $314,446 with +6.5% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.

Short thesis

Kearney's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Kearney

Kearney is a city in Buffalo County, Nebraska, with an estimated population of 34,741. The population grew 0.7% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Kearney is $314,446 as of 2026-04, up 6.5% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +6.5% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Kearney average $1,454 per month, up 10.9% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 75 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Trend still working: prices up 6.5% in the last 12 months — buyers are still chasing inventory.
●Healthy 5-year run: +6.5% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
●Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.
●Hot rental market: rents up 10.9% YoY — landlords have pricing power, supports new investment math.

▼ Bear case

●Rental squeeze: rents up 10.9% YoY — tenants face tough renewals. Affordability deteriorating fast.
○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

About Kearney (Wikipedia)

Kearney is a city in and the county seat of Buffalo County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 33,790 in the 2020 census, making it the 5th most populous city in Nebraska. It is home to the University of Nebraska at Kearney. The westward push of the railroad as the Civil War ended gave new birth to the community.

Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Buffalo County right now.

NWS active alerts (NE)Nebraska Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Buffalo County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Kearney

Fremont, NE73 · RisingNorfolk, NE74 · RisingSouth Sioux City, NE72 · RisingYork, NE74 · Rising

Run the numbers for Kearney

ToolCan I afford Kearney?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Kearney rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Kearney to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolKearney cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
35° / 14°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
86° / 63°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
221
~61% of year
Annual precip
23″ rain
28″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
Very high
Wildfire
Very low
Earthquake
Very low
Flood
Moderate

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Kearney listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local news & community

Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Kearney area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
65%
Moderate climate
Median household income
$71,700
Nebraska state median
Top industries (state-level)
AgricultureInsurance (Berkshire)Manufacturing

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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