Kearney County, NE at a glance
Median household income
$78,631$6,553 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Kearney County, NE?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Kearney County, NE? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Kearney County, NE, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $689 | $8,268 | $27,560 | 10.5% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $757 | $9,084 | $30,280 | 11.6% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $993 | $11,916 | $39,720 | 15.2% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,191 | $14,292 | $47,640 | 18.2% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,327 | $15,924 | $53,080 | 20.3% |
What a typical income covers in Kearney County, NE
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $78,631 a year ($6,553 a month before tax).
What $78,631 leaves after Nebraska taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Nebraska tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Nebraska
Living in Kearney County, NE: common questions
What is the median household income in Kearney County, NE?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Kearney County, NE is $78,631 per year (approximately $6,553 per month).
What is the average rent in Kearney County, NE?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $689 for a studio, $757 for one bedroom, $993 for two, $1,191 for three and $1,327 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Kearney County, NE expensive to live in?
Prices there run 9.9% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for Nebraska is 90.1, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Kearney County, NE?
To keep a $993 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $39,720 a year, or $3,310 a month. That is 51% of what the typical household in Kearney County, NE earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Kearney County, NE?
On the local median income of $78,631 ($6,553 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,276 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,966 for everything else and $1,311 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $993 takes 30% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Kearney County, NE?
Homes in Nebraska paid 13.3¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $119. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.