Kearney, NE Demographics

A map of Kearney's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	27,898	27,768	81.5%	82.2%
Hispanic	3,895	3,648	11.4%	10.8%
Multiracial	893	1,024	2.6%	3.0%
Asian	807	627	2.4%	1.9%
Native American/Other	386	207	1.1%	0.6%
Black	367	516	1.1%	1.5%

Kearney, Nebraska has an estimated population of 34,246, a slight increase from the 33,790 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 81.5% White, 11.4% Hispanic, 2.6% Multiracial, 2.4% Asian, 1.1% Black, and 1.1% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Kearney, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Kearney has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Nebraska overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Kearney, that probability was 31.1% in 2020 and 32.2% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Kearney is ranked the 5th most populous place in Nebraska, out of 593 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Kearney was ranked the 5th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Kearney's White Population

27,898 residents of Kearney, or 81.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Kearney is higher than in Nebraska overall, where 75.3% of the population is White. Kearney ranks 491st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 593 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kearney's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Kearney's population has decreased from 82.2% to 81.5%.

Kearney is less White than neighboring Glenwood (100% White), Riverdale (92.2% White), Odessa (100% White), Axtell (84.5% White), and Amherst (96% White).

Kearney's Black Population

367 residents of Kearney, or 1.1% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Kearney is slightly lower than in Nebraska overall, where 4.6% of the population is Black. Kearney ranks 42nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 593 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kearney's Black population has declined by an estimated 28.9%. Black residents' share of Kearney's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.1%.

Kearney is more Black than neighboring Glenwood (0% Black), Riverdale (0% Black), Odessa (0% Black), Axtell (0% Black), and Amherst (0% Black).

Kearney's Asian Population

807 residents of Kearney, or 2.4% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Kearney is comparable to the share in Nebraska overall, where 2.6% of the population is Asian. Kearney ranks 23rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 593 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kearney's Asian population has grown by an estimated 28.7%. Asian residents' share of Kearney's population has increased from 1.9% to 2.4%.

Kearney is more Asian than neighboring Glenwood (0% Asian), Riverdale (0% Asian), Odessa (0% Asian), Axtell (1.1% Asian), and Amherst (0% Asian).

Kearney's Hispanic Population

3,895 residents of Kearney, or 11.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Kearney is comparable to the share in Nebraska overall, where 12.7% of the population is Hispanic. Kearney ranks 86th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 593 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kearney's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 6.8%. Hispanic residents' share of Kearney's population has increased from 10.8% to 11.4%.

Kearney is more Hispanic than neighboring Glenwood (0% Hispanic), Riverdale (6.8% Hispanic), Odessa (0% Hispanic), Axtell (7.1% Hispanic), and Amherst (1.5% Hispanic).

Kearney's Native American/Other Population

386 residents of Kearney, or 1.1% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Kearney is comparable to the share in Nebraska overall, where 1% of the population is Native American/Other. Kearney ranks 235th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 593 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kearney's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 86.5%. Native American/Other residents' share of Kearney's population has increased from 0.6% to 1.1%.

Kearney is more Native American/Other than neighboring Glenwood (0% Native American/Other), Riverdale (1% Native American/Other), Odessa (0% Native American/Other), and Axtell (0.5% Native American/Other). Kearney is less Native American/Other than neighboring Amherst (1.8% Native American/Other).

Kearney's Multiracial Population

893 residents of Kearney, or 2.6% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Kearney is comparable to the share in Nebraska overall, where 3.8% of the population is Multiracial. Kearney ranks 259th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 593 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kearney's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 12.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Kearney's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.6%.

Kearney is more Multiracial than neighboring Glenwood (0% Multiracial), Riverdale (0% Multiracial), Odessa (0% Multiracial), and Amherst (0.7% Multiracial). Kearney is less Multiracial than neighboring Axtell (6.8% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.