The Town FilesFairbank, Iowa
City in Buchanan County · population 1,111 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $186,900
- Household income
- $89,712
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 37
- Median age
- 42.1
Fairbank is a city of 1,111 people in Buchanan County, Iowa. The median home is worth $186,900, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more of a college town than 89% of Iowa towns.
How Fairbank ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fairbank is worth $186,900, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $89,712, which is more affordable than 62% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $686 a month. 80.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairbank | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $186,900 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $686 | $820 |
| Median household income | $89,712 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 80.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Fairbank
| People | Fairbank | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.9% | 88.5% |
Weather in Fairbank
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 8.6°F. About 35.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairbank since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 15, 1968 about 6.3 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 210 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 5, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 times; the largest was 8.00 inches on May 31, 1958.
Severe weather in Buchanan County since 1996
Buchanan County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4334: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Buchanan County
Buchanan County had 6,619 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,047 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Fairbank itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Fairbank
6 public schools with 589 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wapsie Valley High School | 7-12 | 293 | 14.0 |
| Fairbank Elementary School | PK-6 | 184 | 13.1 |
| Triumph Elementary School | K-8 | 39 | 39.0 |
| Rural Elementary School #2 | K-8 | 28 | 28.0 |
| Rural Elementary School #1 | K-8 | 27 | 13.5 |
| Rural Elementary School #4 | K-8 | 18 | 9.0 |
Towns near Fairbank
- Oelwein, IA7.2 mi · 5,920 people · home $96,300
- Hazleton, IA7.4 mi · 713 people · home $85,900
- Dunkerton, IA7.6 mi · 842 people · home $189,700
- Readlyn, IA10.0 mi · 845 people · home $168,400
- Jesup, IA11.5 mi · 2,508 people · home $190,200
- Independence, IA14.3 mi · 6,064 people · home $165,300
- Denver, IA14.7 mi · 1,919 people · home $229,200
- Sumner, IA14.7 mi · 2,030 people · home $118,000
Fairbank questions
Is Fairbank, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairbank scores better for retirees than 8% of Iowa towns and quieter than 28%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Fairbank?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairbank is valued at $186,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,712, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $686 a month.
What is the weather like in Fairbank?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 8.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.4 inches of precipitation a year and 39.3 inches of snow.
Does Fairbank get tornadoes?
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairbank since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 15, 1968. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)