Kearney is a city in Clay County, Missouri, United States. As of the 2020 census, Kearney had a population of 10,404. The city was the birthplace of Jesse James, and there is an annual festival in the third weekend of September to recognize the outlaw. It is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Kearney ranks

All →

#6Highest graduation rate in MO #14Fastest growing in MO #18Best schools in MO All MO rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code64060

Area code816

Living in Kearney

Housing in Kearney

$403K▲ 2.6% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Kearney home is worth about $403,000, up 2.6% in a year, 50% above the Missouri typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market23

Sold in May17

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Kearney

B⁺

Safety Grade B+

Kearney reports less crime per resident than 66% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Kearney 0.9

Missouri 4.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Kearney 4.4

Missouri 16.9

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Kearney

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Kearney for work: only 11% work in town. The top destinations are Kansas City (29%), Liberty (10%) and Claycomo (4%). Half commute less than 19 miles.

Kansas City

29%

Liberty

10%

Claycomo

Kansas City, KS

11%Work in townlive and work in Kearney 19 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 2,991Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Kearney →

Health in Kearney

A⁻

Health Grade A−

Healthier than 75% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Missouri

15better than MO

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 17 are too close to call.

Conditions 5▲ 7 close Habits 2▲ 2 close Care 2▲ 5 close Mind 2▲ 3 close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

8.4%Fewer adults facing food insecurityMO 13.7% · better 6%Fewer adults facing a utility shut-offMO 9% · better

Care nearby

Excelsior Springs HospitalExcelsior Springs · 6.5 mi · ER · rural critical access

Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center Clay County Family Medicine & DentalLiberty · 8.4 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Kearney · CMS · HRSAHealth in Kearney →

Natural hazards in Kearney

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 50% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes

0Does Kearney flood?no paid flood claims on record 4Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Kearney MapKearney vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Kearney →

Climate in Kearney

Full climate →

Kearney has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 19°, and about 19 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

41° / 22°Winter

65° / 43°Spring

86° / 66°Summer

67° / 45°Fall

How much snow does Kearney get?About 19 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 17, with the last in spring around Apr 19.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.1° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Kearney →

Schools in Kearney

All Kearney schools →

School Grade A

The public schools Kearney’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 93% of Missouri’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#18Best public schoolsof 226 in MO

DistrictKEARNEY R-ISchools9

Dogwood Elem. AElementary · Grades K–5 · 463 students Southview Elem. AElementary · Grades K–5 · 455 students Hawthorne Elem. AElementary · Grades K–5 · 264 students Kearney Elem. B+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 223 students Lens A+Elementary · Grades 4–5 · 60 students Kearney Middle AMiddle · Grades 6–7 · 591 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MO. Ratings are from neighbors.