Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Fairbury, Nebraska
A $91,000 home here costs
$951per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $41,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $496. The real number is $455 higher every month, 92% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Jefferson County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Fairbury from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,905 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Jefferson County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Fairbury against Jefferson County and Nebraska
| Measure | Fairbury | Jefferson County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $90,800 | $117,600 |
| Median property tax | $1,493 | $1,709 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.644% | 1.453% |
| Median gross rent | $666 | $659 |
| Population | 3,905 | 7,155 |
The weather behind that power bill
Fairbury sits in Jefferson County, which averages a high of 88.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 14.1°F in its coldest, with 32.39" of precipitation a year and 45% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,102 cooling and 5,966 heating degree days, which is what sets the $129 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Jefferson County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Jefferson County
No other places of this size are published in Jefferson County.
Full Jefferson County cost breakdown · Every county in Nebraska
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Fairbury averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Fairbury every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Fairbury I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Fairbury?
A $91,000 home in Fairbury, Nebraska costs approximately $951 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $496 principal and interest, $125 property tax, $57 homeowners insurance, $197 utilities and $76 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Fairbury?
Fairbury has an effective property tax rate of 1.644%, based on a median home value of $90,800 and median real estate taxes of $1,493. That is higher than the Jefferson County average of 1.453%.
What is the average home price in Fairbury?
The median owner-occupied home value in Fairbury, Nebraska is $90,800, against $117,600 across Jefferson County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Fairbury?
Median gross rent in Fairbury is $666 a month, against $951 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Fairbury?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Fairbury, Nebraska at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $41,000 a year. That covers the full $951 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Fairbury, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Nebraska.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.