United States › Nebraska › Fairbury CITY
Fairbury Nebraska · 3,812 residents (2025 est.) · 2.54 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 3,888 people, Fairbury is a city in Nebraska. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $101,700. The average commute runs 14 minutes. Households here earn about 31% less than in Nebraska as a whole. The foreign-born share is 3%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 42%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 4,262 in 2000
3,812 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,533 / sq mi
+2%since 2009
from 1,501 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 44.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
4K 4K 4K 4K 4K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Fairbury Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $52,995
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,261 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $17,337 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 10.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.418 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 12.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 9.4%
Public administration 1.8%
Transportation & warehousing 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.7%
Education & health services 0.5%
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$101,700
+42%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$676
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $346 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 70.1% in 2000
32.8% rent
from 19.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.16 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 50.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 1.8 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 96.8%(4,127)
Hispanic / Latino 1.9%(79)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 86.5%(3,365)
Hispanic / Latino 9.4%(365)
from 11 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data from 12.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 78.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 87.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 7.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 65.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 67.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 29.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 17.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 14.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 74.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 87.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 89.0% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 98.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 14.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 48.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 20.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 19.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 22.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 67.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 36.4% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 2.1%(4)
Gulf War (1990s) 11.6%(22)
Share of the 189 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Fairbury, Nebraska? Fairbury, Nebraska has about 3,888 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Fairbury, Nebraska? The typical household in Fairbury, Nebraska earns about $52,995 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Fairbury, Nebraska expensive? In Fairbury, Nebraska, the median home is worth about $101,700, and the typical rent is about $676 a month.
How educated are people in Fairbury, Nebraska? About 17.3% of adults age 25 and over in Fairbury, Nebraska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Fairbury, Nebraska? About 14.9% of people in Fairbury, Nebraska live below the federal poverty line.
Has Fairbury, Nebraska grown since 1990? Yes, Fairbury, Nebraska has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 447 residents, a change of about -10 percent over that period.
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