Kearney County, Nebraska Income Statistics
Kearney County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Kearney County Around averageWealthier than 84% of counties in Nebraska
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Kearney County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $76,831 | $76,615 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,433 | $56,814 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.3% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.1% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Kearney County is about the same as in Nebraska. Income has been growing faster in Kearney County (4.4%/yr) than in Nebraska (4.3%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Kearney County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Nebraska average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Kearney County, Nebraska grew by 53.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $76,831 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Kearney County
| Metric | Kearney County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.473 | 0.515 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $67,688 | $65,618 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $42,567 | $52,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 37.1% | 19.5% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Kearney County, it is 0.473, lower than Nebraska's 0.515, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 59% more than women's income in Kearney County, Nebraska. Over a 35-year career, a 59% wage gap accumulates to roughly $879,235 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Kearney County, Nebraska has widened from about 24% to 37% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 22% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $15,769 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Kearney County widened by 13.6 points while Nebraska's narrowed by 3.1 points.
Employment
| Metric | Kearney County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.7% | 3.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.0% | 11.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 61 people are unemployed in Kearney County, Nebraska.
The average commute time in Kearney County is 21 minutes, longer than the 16 minutes in Nebraska.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Kearney County, Nebraska has fallen from 2.1% to 1.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 4.8% in 2014 and fell as low as 1.4% in 2023.
Kearney County, NE Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Kearney County, NE is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 6,713 residents against a local median of 9,009. The measure that sets Kearney County, NE apart most is unemployment: 1.7%, 31% below the local median of 2.4%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.7% on unemployment, so Kearney County, NE sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Kearney County, NE has the 3rd lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kearney County, NE | 6,713 | $76,831 #1/6 | 4.4%/yr #2/6 | 1.7% #3/6 | 0.473 #1/6 |
| Franklin County, NE | 2,846 | $60,274 | 3.2%/yr | 2.7% | 0.512 |
| Buffalo County, NE | 50,579 | $75,983 | 4.2%/yr | 2.6% | 0.507 |
| Adams County, NE | 31,052 | $68,670 | 3.8%/yr | 2.4% | 0.505 |
| Phelps County, NE | 9,009 | $68,938 | 3.9%/yr | 1.2% | 0.498 |
| Webster County, NE | 3,360 | $65,898 | 6.5%/yr | 1.0% | 0.480 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Kearney County, Nebraska has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Nebraska, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Kearney County, Nebraska.
How Rich Is Kearney County, Nebraska?
Kearney County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $76,831, close to the Nebraska average of $76,615.
Are incomes growing in Kearney County, Nebraska?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Kearney County, Nebraska rose 54%, from $49,918 to $76,831. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Nebraska as a whole: +54% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Kearney County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Kearney County, Nebraska was $78,801, up 7% from $73,466 in 2022. The Nebraska median that year was $74,986.
What was the median household income in Kearney County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Kearney County, Nebraska was $61,042. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $76,831.
Is unemployment high in Kearney County, Nebraska?
Unemployment in Kearney County, Nebraska is only 1.7%, well below the Nebraska rate of 3.0%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Kearney County, Nebraska?
The Gini coefficient in Kearney County is 0.473. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Kearney County, Nebraska?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Kearney County, Nebraska has widened from about 24% to 37% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 22% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $15,769 since 2009.
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