City profile · Nebraska · Census ACS 2023

Fairbury, NE

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Fairbury - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

3,905
Residents
$51,782
Median income
$90,800
Median home
$961
Median rent (state)

Fairbury - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Fairbury lands in the 22nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

22nd
percentile, household income
7th
percentile, home value
11th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Fairbury, NE

Fairbury is a small town in Nebraska, home to 3,905 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Fairbury households earn a median of $51,782 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 15.4%. Fairbury's housing stock carries a median value of $90,800, and the median resident age is 42.7 years. Educational attainment runs 17.1% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 53.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier. NOAA puts Fairbury's yearly average temperature at 51.6°F with 32.4 inches of precipitation per year and 20.7 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Nebraska run below the national norm: the state registers 90.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $961 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $207 across Nebraska, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in Fairbury report an average commute of 15.2 minutes, with 69.9% driving alone and 5.0% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 24.1 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

3,905 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Nebraska

Median Household Income

$51,782 /yr

Poverty 15.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Nebraska average

How does Fairbury compare to other US cities?

Here's how Fairbury stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 22% higher than other cities
Home value 7% pricier than other cities
Median rent 11% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Fairbury's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Nebraska, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

22ndIncome percentile

22nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Fairbury's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$90,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 93% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Fairbury $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Fairbury, NE Fairbury, NE's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fairbury, NE-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Fairbury, NE median $51,782/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Fairbury, NE's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Fairbury, NE. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 17.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 53.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
3,905
Median Income
$51,782
Median Home Value
$90,800
Median Age
42.7
Poverty Rate
15.4%
Labor force participation
53.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
17.1%

Climate

Avg Temperature
51.6°F
Annual Precipitation
32.4"
Annual Snowfall
20.7"

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,750 residents3,800 residents3,850 residents3,900 residents3,950 residents4,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,973 residents 3,812 residents ▼ -4.1%
Fairbury's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 2
2021 0
2022 0
2023 1
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
15.2 minutes
Drive Alone
69.9%
Carpool
21.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.1%
Work from Home
5.0%
Other
2.6%

Based on 1,647 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Nebraska - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$65
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$207
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Nebraska state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Nebraska state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Fairbury sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.1
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$961/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
24.1 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Nebraska

Cozad
3,944 people
Falls City
4,099 people
O'Neill
3,574 people
Broken Bow
3,524 people
West Point
3,479 people
Auburn
3,468 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fairbury's 3,905 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Butte, AK
3,905 people
Berne, IN
3,906 people
Morongo Valley, CA
3,907 people
Lockeford, CA
3,902 people
Oronoque, CT
3,908 people
Hudson Bend, TX
3,902 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fairbury's $51,782 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Samoset, FL
$51,780 median income
Jamestown, NM
$51,779 median income
Lagrange, IN
$51,786 median income
New London, IN
$51,786 median income
Salem, IN
$51,786 median income
Taylor, WI
$51,786 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fairbury, NE Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Fairbury, NE - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.7% White 91.1% Black or African American 1.1% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.4% Two or more races 5.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Fairbury compares to nearby Nebraska cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Fairbury (this city) 3,905 $51,782
Cozad 3,944 $50,161
Falls City 4,099 $45,750
O'Neill 3,574 $66,458
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NE NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fairbury, NE?

What is the population of Fairbury, NE? +

The population of Fairbury, NE stands at 3,905 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Fairbury, NE? +

In Fairbury, the typical household earns $51,782 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fairbury? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Fairbury; the closest available measure is the Nebraska state average, a cost of living index of 90.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Nebraska vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Fairbury, NE? +

A typical home in Fairbury is worth $90,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Fairbury? +

Climate normals put Fairbury's yearly average temperature at 51.6°F, 32.4 inches of precipitation, and 20.7 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.