What are the schools like in Fairbury, NE?

Fairbury is served primarily by FAIRBURY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district operates 2 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.8:1.

What is the median household income in Fairbury?

The median household income in Fairbury, NE is $47,518 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.0%.

What is the weather like in Fairbury, NE?

Fairbury has an average high temperature of 36.1°F in January and 88.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 32.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 20.7 inches.

Fairbury, NE Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Fairbury, NE affordable or expensive?

Fairbury's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Fairbury is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $82,000 and the median rent is $687 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Fairbury, NE?

Fairbury has a violent crime rate of 42.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 794.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Fairbury, NE a Good Place to Live?

Fairbury is a small town of 3,913 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $47,518 and a 1.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

Strengths: Fairbury stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Fairbury is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Fairbury city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 86.2

Fairbury's overall cost of living index is 86.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Fairbury costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Fairbury, NE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$82,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$687	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$47,518	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Fairbury's violent crime rate is 42.6 per 100,000 residents — 89% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

42.6 /100k

Property Crime

794.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Fairbury is served primarily by FAIRBURY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Fairbury, NE	National Avg
School District	FAIRBURY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Fairbury sees average highs of 36.1°F in January and 88.4°F in July, with 32.4 inches of annual precipitation and 20.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Fairbury, NE
Average High — January	36.1°F
Average High — July	88.4°F
Annual Precipitation	32.4"
Annual Snowfall	20.7"

Demographics

Metric	Fairbury, NE	National Avg
Population	3,913	—
Median Age	40.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	14.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	21.3%	22.2%
65 and over	21.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Jansen, NE 6 mi Endicott, NE 6 mi Reynolds, NE 10 mi Steele City, NE 11 mi Harbine, NE 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Fairbury

Fairbury, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code:

68352

Fairbury vs Other Cities

Fairbury, NE vs Jansen, NE Fairbury, NE vs Endicott, NE Fairbury, NE vs Reynolds, NE Fairbury, NE vs Steele City, NE Fairbury, NE vs Harbine, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fairbury, NE affordable or expensive?

Fairbury's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Fairbury roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $82,000 and median rent is $687/month.

What is the crime rate in Fairbury, NE?

Fairbury's violent crime rate is 42.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 794.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Fairbury?

Public schools in Fairbury are operated by FAIRBURY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.8:1. 17.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Fairbury, NE a good place to live?

Fairbury, NE has a population of 3,913, a median household income of $47,518, and an unemployment rate of 1.0%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Fairbury?

Fairbury averages 36.1°F in January and 88.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 32.4 inches with about 20.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Fairbury?

Fairbury, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 68352.

What is the population of Fairbury?

The population of Fairbury, Nebraska is 3,913 with a median age of 40.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Fairbury?

Key numbers for living in Fairbury: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $82,000, median household income $47,518, crime index 22 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fairbury side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.