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.
As of 2024 the population of Buffalo County is 51,245. The population is expected to grow to 52,299 by 2029 - a growth rate of 0.41%.
The median age of Buffalo County residents is 35.
The diversity index of Buffalo County is 40.4, meaning that there is a 40% chance that any two people selected out of 100 residents will be of different race or ethnicity from one another.
The average household income in Buffalo County is $92,955 and projected to be $107,306 in 2029. Per capita income is $36,635, projected to be $42,427 in 2029. 2.91% of households – 1,491 – have an income of $200,000 or higher. Average net worth is $927,993 and the average disposable income is $71,075.
There are 21,580 housing units in Buffalo County; 12,572 are owner-occupied, 7,570 are rented, and 1,438 are vacant. The average home value is $276,889, with 2,077 homes built in 2010 or later, and 3,172 built in 1939 or earlier.
There are 2,401 businesses in Buffalo County, employing 34,349 workers and pulling from a labor force of 27,193 age 16 and above. 2,965 workers commute into Buffalo County from outside the county or state. Key industries for the area include:
24,164 residents both live and work in/around Buffalo County. The average travel time is 16.3 minutes. 7.46% people have a commute of less than 5 minutes while 1.71% commute 90 minutes or more each way. Of commuters, 22,541 drive alone, 2,693 carpool, and 38 take public transportation. 705 use other modes of transport such as motorcycle, bicycle, walking, etc. 1,205 residents work from home.
8,284 members of the workforce hold a high school diploma or GED. 3,646 have associates degrees, 7,983 have bachelor’s degrees, and 4,083 hold a graduate or professional degree.