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

Population2000201020242029
Buffalo County42,25946,10251,24552,299

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-11

Population by Age

Population2024
0-43,235
5-93,398
10-143,301
15-193,969
20-244,580
25-293,759
30-343,394
35-393,239
40-443,195
45-492,719
50-542,647
55-592,483
60-642,738
65-692,675
70-742,210
75-791,655
80-84980
85+1,068
18+39,356
Median Age35

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-11

Population by Race

Buffalo County2024
Total51,245.00
White Alone85.63%
Black Alone1.3%
American Indian Alone0.6%
Asian Alone1.35%
Pacific Islander Alone0.12%
Some Other Race4.7%
Two or More Races6.29%
Hispanic Origin10.92%
Diversity Index40.40

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-11

Growth Rate

Buffalo County2024 - 2029
Population0.41%
Households0.48%
Families0.34%
Median Household Income2%
Per Capita Income3%

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-11

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Housing

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Households

Population2000201020242029
Households15,93018,03720,14220,631
Housing Units16,83019,06421,58022,084
Owner Occupied Units12,57213,251
Renter Occupied Units7,5707,380
Vacant Units1,4381,453

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-11

Home Value

Buffalo County20242029
Median Home Value$249,640$263,603
Average Home Value$276,889$288,442
<$50,000589571
$50,000 - $99,999580561
$100,000 - $149,999880849
$150,000 - $199,9992,1662,091
$200,000 - $249,9992,0862,008
$250,000 - $299,9991,7962,005
$300,000 - $399,9992,9243,273
$400,000 - $499,9998151,002
$500,000 - $749,999495607
$1,000,000 +108129

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-11

Housing Year Built

Year RangeHouses Built
2010 or Later2,036
2000-20092,653
1990-19993,197
1980-19892,163
1970-19793,797
1960-19691,854
1950-19591,408
1940-1949698
1939 or Before3,172

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-11

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Income

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Income

Buffalo County20242029
Median Household$66,786$75,321
Average Household$92,955$107,306
Per Capita$36,635$42,427

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-11

Household Income

Buffalo County2024
<$15,0001,793
$15,000 - $24,9991,490
$25,000 - $34,9991,566
$35,000 - $49,9992,197
$50,000 - $74,9994,031
$75,000 - $99,9992,657
$100,000 - $149,9993,183
$150,000 - $199,9991,734
$200,000+1,491

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-11

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Employees

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Commute

CategoryCommuters
Workers 16+27,193
In-County Residents24,164
Out-of-County Residents2,965
Drive Alone22,541
Carpooled2,693
Public Transport38
Work at Home1,205
Motorcycle6
Bicycle80
Walked468
Other151
Less than 5 minutes1,802
5-9 minutes6,553
10-14 minutes7,796
15-19 minutes3,337
20-24 minutes1,567
25-29 minutes871
30-34 minutes1,435
35-39 minutes218
40-44 minutes412
45-59 minutes1,052
60-89 minutes533
90+ minutes412
Average Travel Time16

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-11

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-11

Employees by NAICS

CategoryNumber
Total Employees34,349
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt253
Mining7
Utilities101
Construction1,524
Manufacturing2,822
Wholesale Trade1,340
  
Retail Trade4,810
Motor Veh/Parts Dealers414
Furn & Home Furnish Str115
Electronics & Appl Store52
Bldg Matl/Garden Equip423
Food & Beverage Stores1,069
Health/Pers Care Stores221
Gasoline Stations163
Clothing/Accessory Store618
Sports/Hobby/Book/Music607
General Merchandise Str1,128
  
Transportation/Warehouse553
Information1,168
  
Finance & Insurance768
Cntrl Bank/Crdt Intrmdtn423
Sec/Cmdty Cntrct/Oth Inv147
Insur/Funds/Trusts/Other198
  
Real Estate/Rent/Leasing480
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv1,289
Legal Services152
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises27
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt512
Educational Services3,904
HealthCare/Social Assist7,216
Arts/Entertainment/Rec566
  
Accommodation/Food Srvcs2,925
Accommodation586
Food Srv/Drinking Places2,339
  
Other Srv excl Pub Admin1,981
Auto Repair/Maintenance322
Public Administration Emp1,834

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-11

Educational Attainment (25+)

Buffalo County2024
<9th Grade638
Some High School1,282
GED1,315
Graduated High School6,969
Some College/No Degree6,846
Associates Degree3,646
Bachelor's Degree7,983
Graduate Degree4,083

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-11

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Businesses

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Businesses by NAICS

CategoryNumber
Total Businesses2,401
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt Bus63
Mining Bus2
Utilities Bus4
Construction Bus195
Manufacturing Bus74
Wholesale Trade Bus98
  
Retail Trade Bus311
Motor Veh/Parts Dealers Bus45
Furn & Home Furnish Str Bus13
Electronics & Appl Store Bus9
Bldg Matl/Garden Equip Bus35
Food & Beverage Stores Bus53
Health/Pers Care Stores Bus34
Gasoline Stations Bus20
Clothing/Accessory Store Bus31
Sports/Hobby/Book/Music Bus43
General Merchandise Str Bus28
  
Transportation/Warehouse Bus57
Information Bus43
  
Finance & Insurance Bus131
Cntrl Bank/Crdt Intrmdtn Bus37
Sec/Cmdty Cntrct/Oth Inv Bus43
Insur/Funds/Trusts/Other Bus51
  
Real Estate/Rent/Leasing Bus80
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv Bus155
Legal Services Bus37
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises Bus4
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt Bus58
Educational Services Bus77
HealthCare/Social Assist Bus330
Arts/Entertainment/Rec Bus62
  
Accommodation/Food Srvcs Bus184
Accommodation Bus34
Food Srv/Drinking Places Bus150
  
Other Srv excl Pub Admin Bus315
Auto Repair/Maintenance Bus70
Public Administration Bus92

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-11

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