The Town FilesFairbury, Nebraska
City in Jefferson County · population 3,970 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $101,700
- Household income
- $52,995
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 41.6
Fairbury is a city of 3,970 people in Jefferson County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $101,700, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks hipper than 98% of Nebraska towns, more walkable than 91% of Nebraska towns, more vibrant than 84% of Nebraska towns.
How Fairbury ranks
Percentile among Nebraska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Nebraska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairbury is worth $101,700, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $52,995, which is more affordable than 76% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $676 a month. 67.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairbury | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $101,700 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $676 | $818 |
| Median household income | $52,995 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 67.2% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1942 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Fairbury
| People | Fairbury | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.4% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.3% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 13.5 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.8% | 87.8% |
Weather in Fairbury
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 14.1°F. About 32.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.7 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairbury since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 29, 2008 about 1.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 9, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 121 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 20, 1957.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4928: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Winter Storm | DR-4868: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4641: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 3,371 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,125 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Fairbury itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Fairbury
3 public schools with 908 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAIRBURY JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 375 | 11.4 |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 279 | 14.0 |
| JEFFERSON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | 3-6 | 254 | 12.1 |
Towns near Fairbury
- Beatrice, NE24.4 mi · 12,261 people · home $159,300
Fairbury questions
Is Fairbury, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairbury scores better for retirees than 22% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 19%. 25.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Fairbury?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairbury is valued at $101,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,995, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $676 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairbury?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 14.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.4 inches of precipitation a year and 20.7 inches of snow.
Does Fairbury get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairbury since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 29, 2008. The typical Nebraska town has had 23.
- 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)