What are the schools like in Paw Paw, IL?

Paw Paw is served primarily by Paw Paw CUSD 271. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 8.5:1.

What is the median household income in Paw Paw?

The median household income in Paw Paw, IL is $58,571 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.2%.

What is the weather like in Paw Paw, IL?

Paw Paw has an average high temperature of 27.9°F in January and 81.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 30.1 inches.

Paw Paw, IL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Paw Paw, IL affordable or expensive?

Paw Paw's cost of living index is 94, where 100 represents the national average. This means Paw Paw is 6% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $141,700 and the median rent is $850 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Paw Paw, IL?

Paw Paw has a violent crime rate of 90.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 208.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Paw Paw, IL a Good Place to Live?

Paw Paw is a small town of 981 in Illinois, with a median household income of $58,571 and a 5.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

Strengths: Paw Paw stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Paw Paw is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Paw Paw city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 93.6

Paw Paw's overall cost of living index is 93.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Paw Paw costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric	Paw Paw, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$141,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$850	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	73.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$58,571	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Paw Paw's violent crime rate is 90.9 per 100,000 residents — 76% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

90.9 /100k

Property Crime

208.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Paw Paw is served primarily by Paw Paw CUSD 271. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Paw Paw, IL	National Avg
School District	Paw Paw CUSD 271	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	8.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	12.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Paw Paw sees average highs of 27.9°F in January and 81.9°F in July, with 36.7 inches of annual precipitation and 30.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Paw Paw, IL
Average High — January	27.9°F
Average High — July	81.9°F
Annual Precipitation	36.7"
Annual Snowfall	30.1"

Demographics

Metric	Paw Paw, IL	National Avg
Population	981	—
Median Age	35.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	39.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	98.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	22.0%	22.2%
65 and over	16.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Compton, IL 6 mi Shabbona, IL 7 mi Earlville, IL 8 mi Lee, IL 8 mi West Brooklyn, IL 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Paw Paw

Paw Paw, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

61353

Paw Paw vs Other Cities

Paw Paw, IL vs Compton, IL Paw Paw, IL vs Shabbona, IL Paw Paw, IL vs Earlville, IL Paw Paw, IL vs Lee, IL Paw Paw, IL vs West Brooklyn, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Paw Paw, IL affordable or expensive?

Paw Paw's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Paw Paw roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $141,700 and median rent is $850/month.

What is the crime rate in Paw Paw, IL?

Paw Paw's violent crime rate is 90.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 208.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Paw Paw?

Public schools in Paw Paw are operated by Paw Paw CUSD 271. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.5:1. 12.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Paw Paw, IL a good place to live?

Paw Paw, IL has a population of 981, a median household income of $58,571, and an unemployment rate of 5.2%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Paw Paw?

Paw Paw averages 27.9°F in January and 81.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.7 inches with about 30.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Paw Paw?

Paw Paw, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61353.

What is the population of Paw Paw?

The population of Paw Paw, Illinois is 981 with a median age of 35.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Paw Paw?

Key numbers for living in Paw Paw: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $141,700, median household income $58,571, crime index 18 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Paw Paw side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.