The Town FilesFairbury, Illinois
City in Livingston County · population 3,633 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $162,200
- Household income
- $70,962
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 33.5
Fairbury is a city of 3,633 people in Livingston County, Illinois. The median home is worth $162,200, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 93% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 80% of Illinois towns.
How Fairbury ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairbury is worth $162,200, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $70,962, which is more affordable than 45% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $776 a month. 68.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairbury | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $162,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $776 | $960 |
| Median household income | $70,962 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 68.2% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fairbury
| People | Fairbury | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 15.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.5% | 90.4% |
Weather in Fairbury
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 15.2°F. About 36.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.0 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairbury since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 22, 2016 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 9, 2003.
Severe weather in Livingston County since 1996
Livingston County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 7, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1747: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Livingston County
Livingston County had 13,762 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,455 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Fairbury itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in Fairbury
2 public schools with 886 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie Central High School | 9-12 | 518 | 11.8 |
| Prairie Central Elem School | 2-4 | 368 | 13.1 |
Towns near Fairbury
- Pontiac, IL11.9 mi · 11,150 people · home $116,300
- Gibson City, IL20.6 mi · 3,475 people · home $153,800
- Dwight, IL24.8 mi · 4,032 people · home $155,600
- El Paso, IL26.3 mi · 2,756 people · home $159,400
- Normal, IL29.5 mi · 52,736 people · home $213,600
- Paxton, IL29.5 mi · 4,450 people · home $120,400
Fairbury questions
Is Fairbury, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairbury scores better for retirees than 99% of Illinois towns and quieter than 74%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.5).
How much does a house cost in Fairbury?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairbury is valued at $162,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,962, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $776 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairbury?
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 15.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.3 inches of precipitation a year and 14.0 inches of snow.
Does Fairbury get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairbury since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 22, 2016. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)