City · Illinois
Paxton, Illinois
Paxton, city, in Ford County, Illinois. Paxton had 4,323 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 4,450 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 4,131 (±181). GEOID 1758239.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
4,323
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 4,450 · ACS 2020-2024: 4,131 ±181
Median household income
$62,386
±$8,191 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390
Median home value
$120,400
±$11,610 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300
Median gross rent
$784
±$205 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274
Where is Paxton and what county is it in?
Paxton is a city in Ford County, Illinois. It covers 3.0 square miles of land, 1,466 residents per square mile in 2020.
Paxton is in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Paxton lies entirely within Patton Township, a township with its own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Paxton, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 4,323 people lived in Paxton on July 1, 2025, down 2.8% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020 Census counted 4,450 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 4,131 (±181).
| Measure | Paxton | Ford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 4,131 ±181 | 13,406 | no clear change |
| Households | 1,789 ±135 | 5,828 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.20 ±0.13 | 2.23 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,955 ±131 | 6,263 | no clear change |
Paxton's population since 2000
From 4,525 in 2000 to 4,323 in 2025: down 4.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Paxton as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Paxton?
The median resident of Paxton is 39.3 years old; 23.7% are under 18 and 20.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.2%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.7%.
| Measure | Paxton | Ford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 ±4.3 | 41.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 23.7% ±2.8 pts | 23.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.0% ±2.5 pts | 19.6% | – |
| Male | 49.6% ±2.6 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.0% ±2.2 pts | 5.3% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 92.2% ±3.2 pts | 89.4% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.4 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.7% ±2.0 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±1.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.7% ±0.8 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.1% ±1.1 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.1% ±2.6 pts | 7.9% | – |
| With a disability | 19.3% ±4.1 pts | 14.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 0.7% ±0.7 pts | 5.7% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.5% ±2.4 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 19.7% ±4.5 pts | 18.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.8% ±2.3 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.7% ±3.1 pts | 92.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Paxton earn?
Half of Paxton's 1,789 households earn less than $62,386 a year (±$8,191), against $62,439 in Ford County and $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $66,355 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Paxton | Ford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $62,386 ±$8,191 | $62,439 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $75,087 ±$9,020 | $79,163 | – |
| Per capita income | $32,712 ±$3,385 | $34,075 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.6% ±3.4 pts | 12.4% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.1% ±6.0 pts | 13.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 16.2% ±6.1 pts | 14.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.0% ±2.9 pts | 92.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.9% ±3.7 pts | 86.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Paxton?
Owners occupy 72.9% of Paxton's occupied homes and renters 27.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $120,400 by its owner (±$11,610). The median renter pays $784 a month including utilities, and 13.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Paxton | Ford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $120,400 ±$11,610 | $122,000 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $784 ±$205 | $923 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 13.6% ±8.4 pts | 35.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,149 ±$111 | $1,238 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 72.9% ±6.2 pts | 72.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 27.1% ±6.2 pts | 27.7% | – |
| Housing units | 1,955 ±131 | 6,263 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±2.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±7.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 82.7% ±4.8 pts | 84.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.1% ±2.3 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.5% ±0.7 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 24.6% ±7.1 pts | 34.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.7% ±3.4 pts | 9.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Paxton building?
Builders took permits for 2 new housing units in Paxton in 2025 (2 in single-family houses), 0.5 per 1,000 residents against 1.5 across Illinois.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Paxton work and get to work?
79.1% of Paxton's workers drive alone and 12.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.2 minutes.
| Measure | Paxton | Ford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.0% ±4.3 pts | 61.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.6% ±1.7 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 79.1% ±6.4 pts | 79.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.1% ±3.9 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 2.3% ±2.2 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.5% ±6.7 pts | 9.2% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.2 min ±3.0 | 24.6 min | +8.2 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Paxton?
1 census tract lies mostly in Paxton, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9618Ford County | 4,235 | $61,159 |
| Tract 9617Ford County | 2,222 | $85,375 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Paxton) · Census block assignment files
How does Paxton compare with other places in Illinois?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Paxton is the 5,312th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 358th-most populous of 1,294 in Illinois.
Paxton ranks 1,033rd of 1,380 places in Illinois with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 358th | 1,294 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 918th | 1,347 |
| Residents per square mile | 440th | 1,383 |
| Median household income | 1,033rd | 1,380 |
| Per capita income | 1,030th | 1,383 |
| Median home value | 1,020th | 1,379 |
| Median gross rent | 1,002nd | 1,280 |
| Poverty rate | 672nd | 1,119 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 898th | 1,369 |
| Median age | 896th | 1,383 |
| Owner-occupied share | 916th | 1,382 |
| Work from home | 411th | 1,015 |
| Travel time to work | 632nd | 1,382 |
Paxton's figures with every place in Illinois (CSV)
Every place in Illinois, sortable · Compare Paxton with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Paxton?
19 of the 57 figures for Paxton on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Paxton are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Paxton.