Kearney, NE vs Papillion, NE

Kearney is moderately more affordable than Papillion, with a 14.8% lower cost of living index. Kearney scores 79 compared to 93 for Papillion, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Papillion can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Kearney is $922/month compared to $1,210/month in Papillion — a 24% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Kearney is more affordable at $235,800 median vs $290,900.

Median household income in Kearney is $69,790 compared to $109,602 in Papillion (-36.3%). While Papillion is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Kearney spend roughly 15.9% of their income on rent, more than the 13.2% in Papillion.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.9°F vs 52.4°F). Papillion receives more rainfall at 31.9" per year compared to 26.4" in Kearney.