The Town Files

Buffalo County, Nebraska

50,579 people. The median home is worth $246,400 (typical Nebraska town: $154,800) and the median household earns $75,911.

Towns in Buffalo County

Towns in Buffalo County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Kearney33,790$244,600$69,72432.8

People and housing

Buffalo CountyTypical Nebraska town
Median home value$246,400$154,800
Median rent$936$818
Median household income$75,911$66,320
Median age35.139.5
Bachelor's degree or higher34.4%22.4%
Below the poverty line9.9%9.9%

Jobs and pay

28,148 jobs in 2024, average pay $51,993 a year.

Largest industries in Buffalo CountyHealth care & social assistan…4,580 jobs · $64,033Manufacturing3,534 jobs · $62,454Retail3,379 jobs · $33,730Hotels & restaurants3,181 jobs · $21,346Construction1,449 jobs · $61,994Wholesale trade1,169 jobs · $67,739
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Buffalo County0%2%4%2000200420082012201620202023 1.8%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 858 storm events in Buffalo County from 1996 to 2026, with 6 deaths.

Storm events in Buffalo County by type since 1996Hail310Flood13Drought53Tornado25Blizzard15High Wind61Heavy Rain29Flash Flood16Winter Storm50Winter Weather52
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Buffalo County has been included in 19 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
August 3, 2026Severe StormDR-4928: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
February 23, 2022Severe StormDR-4641: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes
April 4, 2020BiologicalDR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3483: Covid-19
March 21, 2019FloodDR-4420: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
August 12, 2011Severe StormDR-4014: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).