Real Estate Investing in Fairbury, Nebraska (68352)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Jefferson County • Population: 4,897 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 68352 (Fairbury, NE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 14.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Fairbury, NE (68352)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $118,121
Avg Monthly Rent $864
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $50,735
% Renters 35.4%

Market Analysis: 68352 Fairbury

Stepping back, ZIP 68352 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $118K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Stepping back, the numbers look inviting — $118K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 68352 is substantial and deserves full respect.

ZIP 68352's metrics run below Jefferson County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Demographically, 68352 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

appears to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Fairbury:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.3× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-1.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $864/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 68352

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
8.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$39,505/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $79,591 $960 8.7% +7.5% $39,795
3BR $168,107 $1,340 5.7% +8.0% $56,036
4BR $173,954 $1,480 6.1% +7.6% $43,489
5BR $197,524 $39,505

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$130K$114K$98K$83K$67K$51KMar 2006May 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 68352 Compare?

Metric 68352 Fairbury Nebraska
Home Value $118,121 $118,121 $269,423
5-Year CAGR 3.0% 3.0% 6.7%
Avg Rent $864 $864 -
Cap Rate 5.7% 5.7% -
💡 Why Invest in 68352? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 35% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 68352 (Fairbury, NE). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 68352 (Fairbury, NE)?

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.7%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.0%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $118,121
Monthly Rent $864
Price-to-Rent 11.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.8%
Cap Rate 5.7%
5-Year IRR 8.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -1.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR +0.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.7%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
14.8%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 68352

Population: 4,897

💰 Median Household Income
$50,735
This area
$50,735
State
$70,851
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
35.4%
This area
35.4%
State
22.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.5%
This area
0.5%
State
-5.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.4%
This area
20.4%
State
15.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.0 years
This area
44.0 years
State
33.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.8%
This area
14.8%
State
15.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.6%
Other/Mixed 5.3%
Hispanic/Latino 3.6%
Black/African American 1.1%
👶 Under 18
21.5%
This area
21.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.4%
This area
22.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.2%
This area
11.2%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 68352

A+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
12.2:1 Avg Class Size
$19,059 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

FAIRBURY JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
375 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,059 Per Student
A+ Excellent

JEFFERSON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

📚 03 – 06 School
👥
254 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,059 Per Student
A Very Good

CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
279 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,059 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median home value in Fairbury, NE?

Fairbury, NE home values average about $118K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $864/mo in monthly income.

What strategy should investors use in Fairbury, NE?

In Fairbury, NE the healthy play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $118K prices and $864/mo rents suits that approach.

Is Fairbury, NE good for landlords?

Fairbury, NE operates under NE law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect steady treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

What does house hacking look like in Fairbury, NE?

House hacking works a challenging in Fairbury, NE. Rents of $864/mo against $118K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

What is the investability score for Fairbury, NE?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Fairbury, NE reflects its $118K prices and $864/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within NE.

You know 68352 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 68352 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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