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C

Is Kearney, Nebraska Safe?

Population 34,782 · Safer than 34% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Kearney is a smaller community of 34,782 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 218.1 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,595 per 100K.

Kearney Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricKearneyNebraska AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate305.0328.5363.8
Property Crime Rate1875.72048.11,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate207.0--268.2
Theft Rate1595.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate276.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyC

218.1 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

305/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1876/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Kearney

Violent crime in Kearney is below the national average. The rate of 305.0 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1875.7 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,595 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Kearney Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault207
077% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery70
01.1x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary247
092% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,595
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft276
087% of avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Kearney Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Kearney
305.0
State
328.5
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Kearney
1875.7
State
2048.1
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kearney Safety

Is Kearney safe?
Not especially. Kearney earns a C with a crime rate of 218.1 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Kearney?
218.1 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 305.0 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1875.7 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Kearney safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Kearney's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,595 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Kearney?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Kearney generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Kearney police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Kearney?
No. Crime in Kearney has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Kearney compare to other cities in Nebraska?
Below average for the state. Kearney ranks behind about 64% of Nebraska cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Kearney to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Kearney?
Bad. A C grade and 218.1 per-thousand rate put Kearney below 66% of US cities. Violent crime at 305 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Kearney?
305.0 per 100,000, which is 16% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (207), robbery (70), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

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View all Nebraska city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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