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City · 34,246 residents · Buffalo County, Nebraska

Kearney , Nebraska

In Kearney, a typical home is worth $244,600 and typical rent is $949 a month. Compared with all of Buffalo County, typical household income is 8% lower and the share of households that own their home is 6 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $244,600

    About the same as the county

    3% above Nebraska

    • Kearney
    • Buffalo
    • Nebraska

  • Typical rent

    $949a month

    About the same as the county

    11% below Nebraska

    • Kearney
    • Buffalo
    • Nebraska

  • Typical household income

    $69,724a year

    8% below the county

    9% below Nebraska

    • Kearney
    • Buffalo
    • Nebraska

  • Households that own their home

    61%

    6 points below the county

    6 points below Nebraska

    • Kearney
    • Buffalo
    • Nebraska

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$318,869
6.1% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,686 a month
5.5% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Kearney is in Buffalo County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Buffalo County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Kearney apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Lexington, the typical home value is $159,100: 35% less than in Kearney ($244,600).

  2. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Kearney rose 6.1%; in Nebraska, it rose 3%.

  3. 61% of households in Kearney own their home, against 66% in Buffalo County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Kearney

What homes there are in Kearney, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses are the majority in Kearney (57%), but less so than in Buffalo County (67%).

Year built

In Kearney, half of the homes were built before 1983; in Buffalo County, before 1980.

In Kearney, 13% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 57% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 62% in Buffalo County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA loan limit for Buffalo County is $541,287, and about 97% of owner-occupied homes in Kearney are worth less than that.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,691 a month

Buffalo County: $1,712 a month

Without a mortgage

$733 a month

Buffalo County: $720 a month

Owners with a mortgage

56%

Buffalo County: 56%

Owning costs about the same in Kearney as in Buffalo County: with a mortgage, $1,691 a month; without one, $733.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Kearney gained value more slowly than in Buffalo County: 37% since 2015–2019, against 41%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Kearney rose 24%, more than in Buffalo County (20%).

While home values in Kearney changed +37% and rent +24%, the typical household income rose 22%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureKearneyBuffalo CountyNebraskaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate4.3%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.6%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.4%2.1%3.4%
People per household 2.302.422.422.53
Drive alone 81%81%76%69%
Carpool 11%11%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 3%3%3%3%
Work from home 5%5%11%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

A household in Kearney has 2.30 people on average, about the same as in Buffalo County (2.42).

To get to work, 81% of workers in Kearney drive alone; in Buffalo County, 81%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Kearney?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Kearney, worth $244,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 37% of the typical household income in Kearney, which is $69,724 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $91,749 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Buffalo County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Kearney. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $8,561 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,141

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$240,170
Total interest
$345,548
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,131 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,627 a month

  • Tight

    $1,627 to $2,092 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,092 a month

    Your payment · 37%

Compared with the typical household income in Kearney ($69,724 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,141
Principal & interest$1,627
Property tax$304
Home insurance$102
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$108

You need at least $8,561 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Kearney and Buffalo County

Kearney is in Buffalo County, Nebraska. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Kearney's own numbers

Typical home value
$244,600
Typical monthly rent
$949
Typical yearly household income
$69,724
Households that own their home
61%
Effective property tax rate
1.49%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Buffalo County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,097
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+40%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.7%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Buffalo County.

Everything about Buffalo County

Buying

Buying a home in Kearney

A typical home in Kearney is worth $244,600: about the same as the county and 3% above Nebraska. With the typical household income in Kearney ($69,724 a year), a typical home costs 3.5 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Kearney 3.5 years
  • Buffalo 3.2 years
  • Nebraska 3.1 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Buffalo County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Buffalo County rose 62% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Buffalo County.

Period County Nebraska U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.0% +3.3% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +40% +49% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +62% +87% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Kearney next to Buffalo County, Nebraska and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Kearney $244,600
  • Buffalo $246,400
  • Nebraska $238,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Kearney $949
  • Buffalo $936
  • Nebraska $1,072
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Kearney $69,724
  • Buffalo $75,911
  • Nebraska $76,475
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Kearney next to Buffalo County and Nebraska
Measure Kearney Buffalo County Nebraska U.S.
Typical home value $244,600 $246,400 $238,600 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $949 $936 $1,072 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $69,724 $75,911 $76,475 $80,734
Households that own their home 61% 66% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,641 $3,555 $3,549 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.49% 1.44% 1.49% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 43% 41% 45% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Buffalo County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Kearney

For a typical $244,600 home in Kearney, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Kearney's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,141a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,561
    Cash to close
    $15,899
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $108

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,096a month

    Down payment
    $12,230
    Cash to close
    $19,568
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $116

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,731a month

    Down payment
    $48,920
    Cash to close
    $56,258
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,957a month

    Down payment
    $36,690
    Cash to close
    $44,028
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Kearney and for Buffalo County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Kearney

1.49%of the home’s value each year

$3,641 a year for the typical owner in Kearney.

  • Kearney 1.49%
  • Buffalo 1.44%
  • Nebraska 1.49%

What Nebraska publishes Homestead exemption for seniors, people with disabilities and veterans (Nebraska Department of Revenue, Property Assessment Division)

Exemptions and deadlines in Nebraska

Flood risk in Buffalo County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Buffalo County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
3.7%
713
Of those, with NFIP insurance
13%
County Nebraska U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 3.7% 3.5% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 13% 15% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Kearney

Typical rent in Kearney is $949 a month: about the same as the county. In Kearney, 43% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Buffalo County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,097 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $21.10 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Buffalo County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $899 $17.29 $35,960
1 bedroom $904 $17.38 $36,160
2 bedrooms $1,097 $21.10 $43,880
3 bedrooms $1,432 $27.54 $57,280
4 bedrooms $1,834 $35.27 $73,360

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Kearney

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Kearney has 3 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,060 in 68845 to $1,180 in 68847.

1 of the 3 is above the fair market rent for Buffalo County ($1,097).

  • 68845 $1,060$1,380
  • 68847 $1,180$1,540
  • 68849 $1,060$1,380

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Kearney when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Kearney

HUD lists 17 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Kearney. These are the largest.

  • Kearney Manor and Scattered Sites 2715 Avenue I, Kearney 68847 185 homes, 172 low-income · Run by Kearney Housing Agency · Average payment: $492 a month · Average wait: 17 months (308) 234-3000
  • Prairie View 301 E 8th St, Kearney 68847 77 low-income homes · For families (402) 333-7373
  • Stoneridge Apts 716 E 56th St, Kearney 68847 80 homes, 70 low-income · 1 bd: 32 · 2 bd: 32 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2006 · For families
  • Emerson Place 600 E 23rd St, Kearney 68847 50 low-income homes · For older adults (308) 237-3221
  • Kearney Plaza Townhomes 65 Villa Dr, Kearney 68845 50 low-income homes · For families (308) 236-6112

See all 20 buildings in Buffalo County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Kearney

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Buffalo County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A pregnant woman reads paperwork on the sofa while the grandmother plays with the girl on the floor.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Kearney

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Kearney or Buffalo County. The ones below are statewide in Nebraska: they work in Kearney the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Nebraska

  • Homebuyer Assistance (HBA) Program

    Statewide in Nebraska

    Nebraska state authority program for first-time buyers: a NIFA mortgage plus a second mortgage of up to 5% of the price at 1%, over 10 years, for the down payment and closing costs. Offered by Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • Welcome Home Assistance (WHA)

    Statewide in Nebraska

    Nebraska state authority option that adds a second loan for the down payment and closing costs to the Welcome Home mortgage, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before; the page does not state the amount. Offered by Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Kearney

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Kearney, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Blue Valley Community Action Partnership

    620 5th St, Fairbury · 108 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 5 more
    (402) 729-2278

  • Neighborhoods, Inc. DBA Neighborworks Lincoln

    2530 Q St, Lincoln · 126 miles away

    • Workshops for new owners
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (402) 477-7181

  • Credit Advisors Foundation

    1818 S 72nd St, Omaha · 164 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Korean and other languages.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 9 more
    (402) 514-3340

All counseling agencies in Nebraska

Help in Spanish near Kearney

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Kearney

HUD’s record names them for Kearney or Buffalo County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Kearney Housing Agency Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (308) 234-3000

3 other authorities have an office in Buffalo County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Kearney, with the typical home value.

Everything about Buffalo County Housing in Nebraska

Neighboring counties

If Buffalo County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Kearney.

All guides
A family walks a boardwalk trail in the forest; one of them uses a wheelchair.

Questions

Housing questions about Kearney

Short answers with the numbers for Kearney and all of Buffalo County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Kearney?

The typical home value in Kearney is $244,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Buffalo County it is $246,400.

How much does it cost to rent in Kearney?

Typical rent in Kearney is $949 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Buffalo County is $1,097.

What is the FHA loan limit in Kearney?

Kearney uses the FHA limit for all of Buffalo County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Kearney?

The typical homeowner in Kearney pays $3,641 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.49% of the home’s value; in Buffalo County, the rate is 1.44%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Kearney?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Buffalo County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).