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Buying a home in Fairbury, Nebraska

The typical owner-occupied home in Fairbury is worth about $101,700, 57% below the Nebraska median of $238,600 and 69% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,784 a year in property taxes, about 1.75% of their home's value, higher than the Nebraska rate of 1.49%. The median household earns $52,995 a year, so the median home costs 1.9 times the median income (3.1 times for Nebraska). 67% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 49% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Fairbury at a glance

Fairbury Nebraska U.S.
Median home value $101,700 $238,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,784 $3,549 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.75% 1.49% 0.94%
Median household income $52,995 $76,475 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 67% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 49% 58% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,167 $1,736 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 19.9% 19.5% 21.0%
Median rent $676 $1,072 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 24.5% 27.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1942 1975 1980
Vacant homes 17.0% 7.6% 10.1%
Population 3,888 1,978,707 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Fairbury

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Fairbury home of $101,700 with 20% down costs about $738 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $907, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $31,629 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 17% of the median Fairbury household income of $52,995; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $170,000.

The median rent here is $676 a month, so owning the median home costs about $62 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$20,340
Loan amount$81,360
Principal and interest$547
Property taxes (1.75% a year)$148
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$42
PMI$0
Total per month$738

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$3,560
Loan amount$99,858
Principal and interest$672
Property taxes (1.75% a year)$148
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$42
FHA mortgage insurance$45
Total per month$907

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Questions about home buying in Fairbury

What is the median home value in Fairbury?

About $101,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Fairbury?

Homeowners pay a median $1,784 a year, which is about 1.75% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Fairbury?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $738 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $31,629 a year.

More about Fairbury

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data