Signals
Columbus
Kearney
Growth
54 · Top 44%
vs60 · Top 34%
Climate
57 · Bottom 17%
vs59 · Bottom 21%
Physical resilience
27 · Bottom 16%
vs24 · Bottom 12%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs98 · Top 37%
Access
66 · Bottom 31%
vs39 · Bottom 6%
Economic stability
94 · Top 2%
vs92 · Top 3%
Measured values
| Metric | Columbus | Kearney | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 45,357 | 57,292 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $75,378 | $76,109 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,056 | $39,133 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 42/sq mi | 39/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $210,600 | $242,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $923 | $930 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 72.6% | 67.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.2% | 34.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | 9.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 197 | 168 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.3 | 2.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -50.9% | 17.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 12°F | 14°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 27.0" | 25.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 59 mi | 90 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 17.7 min | 18.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.1 | 35.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Columbus
Elevated or high exposure: hail, strong wind, tornado.
Kearney
Elevated or high exposure: hail, strong wind, tornado.
Full profiles: Columbus, NE Micro Area · Kearney, NE Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology