Buffalo County

Buffalo County is the fifth-most populated county in Nebraska. The most populated city in the county is Kearney, which is the county seat and is among the most dynamic micropolitan cities in the Midwest, affording amenities usually found only in much larger communities.

Kearney and the surrounding communities of Amherst, Elm Creek, Gibbon, Miller, Pleasanton, Ravenna, Riverdale and Shelton deliver a growing, diversified economy with the best quality of living expected of small towns. Niche ranks Buffalo County in the top five counties in the state for young professionals and overall health.

Population

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Population

Population2000201020232028
Buffalo County42,25946,10251,14952,064

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

Population by Age

Population2023
0-43,242
5-93,242
10-143,122
15-193,774
20-244,524
25-293,790
30-343,932
35-393,195
40-442,901
45-492,528
50-542,714
55-592,855
60-643,069
65-692,694
70-742,028
75-791,453
80-84989
85+1,097
18+39,743
Median Age35

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

Population by Race

Buffalo County2023
Total51,149.00
White Alone85.83%
Black Alone1.29%
American Indian Alone0.57%
Asian Alone1.37%
Pacific Islander Alone0.08%
Some Other Race4.67%
Two or More Races6.19%
Hispanic Origin10.87%
Diversity Index40.10

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

Growth Rate

Buffalo County2023 - 2028
Population0.36%
Households0.44%
Families0.40%
Median Household Income2%
Per Capita Income2%

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

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Housing

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Households

Population2000201020232028
Households15,93018,03720,07120,517
Housing Units16,83019,06421,52321,956
Owner Occupied Units13,01113,553
Renter Occupied Units7,0606,964
Vacant Units1,4521,439

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

Home Value

Buffalo County20232028
Median Home Value$220,898$229,806
Average Home Value$261,365$274,567
<$50,000832775
$50,000 - $99,999581536
$100,000 - $149,9991,2421,148
$150,000 - $199,9992,6152,423
$200,000 - $249,9992,9563,178
$250,000 - $299,9991,4191,522
$300,000 - $399,9991,6601,963
$400,000 - $499,999819966
$500,000 - $749,999537634
$1,000,000 +120140

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

Housing Year Built

Year RangeHouses Built
2010 or Later1,570
2000-20092,538
1990-19993,209
1980-19892,500
1970-19793,939
1960-19691,728
1950-19591,301
1940-1949788
1939 or Before3,260

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

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Income

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Income

Buffalo County20232028
Median Household$70,049$78,043
Average Household$88,592$98,125
Per Capita$34,851$38,754

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

Household Income

Buffalo County2023
<$15,0001,654
$15,000 - $24,9991,913
$25,000 - $34,9991,446
$35,000 - $49,9992,119
$50,000 - $74,9993,407
$75,000 - $99,9993,149
$100,000 - $149,9993,555
$150,000 - $199,9992,043
$200,000+785

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

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Employees

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Commute

CategoryCommuters
Workers 16+27,180
In-County Residents24,047
Out-of-County Residents3,084
Drive Alone22,577
Carpooled2,515
Public Transport48
Work at Home1,207
Motorcycle7
Bicycle92
Walked578
Other151
Less than 5 minutes1,917
5-9 minutes6,636
10-14 minutes7,739
15-19 minutes3,235
20-24 minutes1,429
25-29 minutes853
30-34 minutes1,255
35-39 minutes203
40-44 minutes386
45-59 minutes1,360
60-89 minutes560
90+ minutes400
Average Travel Time17

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

Employees by NAICS

CategoryNumber
Total Employees32,443
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt256
Mining7
Utilities96
Construction1,371
Manufacturing2,799
Wholesale Trade1,244
  
Retail Trade4,822
Motor Veh/Parts Dealers403
Furn & Home Furnish Str114
Electronics & Appl Store53
Bldg Matl/Garden Equip431
Food & Beverage Stores1,070
Health/Pers Care Stores227
Gasoline Stations128
Clothing/Accessory Store631
Sports/Hobby/Book/Music642
General Merchandise Str1,123
  
Transportation/Warehouse456
Information1,112
  
Finance & Insurance812
Cntrl Bank/Crdt Intrmdtn480
Sec/Cmdty Cntrct/Oth Inv127
Insur/Funds/Trusts/Other205
  
Real Estate/Rent/Leasing391
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv1,215
Legal Services172
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises20
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt517
Educational Services3,658
HealthCare/Social Assist6,305
Arts/Entertainment/Rec520
  
Accommodation/Food Srvcs2,865
Accommodation592
Food Srv/Drinking Places2,273
  
Other Srv excl Pub Admin1,840
Auto Repair/Maintenance321
Public Administration Emp2,066

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

Educational Attainment (25+)

Buffalo County2023
<9th Grade875
Some High School1,316
GED1,098
Graduated High School7,270
Some College/No Degree6,998
Associates Degree3,419
Bachelor's Degree8,008
Graduate Degree4,261

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

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Businesses

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Businesses by NAICS

CategoryNumber
Total Businesses2,233
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt Bus59
Mining Bus2
Utilities Bus3
Construction Bus177
Manufacturing Bus68
Wholesale Trade Bus97
  
Retail Trade Bus311
Motor Veh/Parts Dealers Bus44
Furn & Home Furnish Str Bus13
Electronics & Appl Store Bus9
Bldg Matl/Garden Equip Bus36
Food & Beverage Stores Bus54
Health/Pers Care Stores Bus34
Gasoline Stations Bus13
Clothing/Accessory Store Bus32
Sports/Hobby/Book/Music Bus48
General Merchandise Str Bus28
  
Transportation/Warehouse Bus50
Information Bus40
  
Finance & Insurance Bus138
Cntrl Bank/Crdt Intrmdtn Bus44
Sec/Cmdty Cntrct/Oth Inv Bus38
Insur/Funds/Trusts/Other Bus56
  
Real Estate/Rent/Leasing Bus71
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv Bus161
Legal Services Bus42
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises Bus3
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt Bus57
Educational Services Bus73
HealthCare/Social Assist Bus256
Arts/Entertainment/Rec Bus61
  
Accommodation/Food Srvcs Bus178
Accommodation Bus35
Food Srv/Drinking Places Bus143
  
Other Srv excl Pub Admin Bus273
Auto Repair/Maintenance Bus61
Public Administration Bus87

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

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