B+

Kearney, MO

Source:

Affordability Score: 75/100

Population: 13,042 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Kearney, MO aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 13,042 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B+ (75/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $112,683, median home value of $356,600, median rent of $1,243 per month, and 41.9% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,358 per month (studio $1,095, 1BR $1,197, 3BR $1,769, 4BR $2,103).

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Kearney, MO include income, education, rent. Unemployment currently reads 4.7% and poverty 3.6% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income A
$112,683
Median household income
Education B
41.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C+
3.2x
Home value $356,600 vs income
Commute C
25 min
Average commute time
Rent A+
$1,358/mo
2BR fair market rent (14% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare N/A
N/A
Center-based infant care cost

Income & Employment

Median Income
$112,683
▲ 82% vs national
Per Capita Income
$53,772
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Poverty Rate
3.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
$356,600
▲ 30% vs national
Median Rent
$1,243/mo
Owner Occupied
82.4%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,358/mo
▲ 13% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,095
1BR
$1,197
2BR
$1,358
3BR
$1,769
4BR
$2,103

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
41.9%
▲ 12 ppt vs national
High School+
63.9%
Median Age
43.1
Avg. Commute
25 min
▼ 1 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
Toddler (Center)
Preschool (Center)
School-Age (Center)

What This Means

Kearney, MO receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (75/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 13,042. This area performs well in income and education and rent. Data was unavailable for safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Kearney ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Kearney, MO affordable?
Kearney, MO receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (75/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $112,683. Median home value is $356,600.
What is the cost of living in Kearney?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,243/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,358/mo. Median home value $356,600.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →