What are the schools like in Paxton, IL?

Paxton is served primarily by Paxton-Buckley-Loda CUD 10. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.8:1.

What is the median household income in Paxton?

The median household income in Paxton, IL is $59,040 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.5%.

What is the weather like in Paxton, IL?

Paxton has an average high temperature of 32.1°F in January and 84.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 18.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Paxton, IL affordable or expensive?

Paxton's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Paxton is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $114,000 and the median rent is $493 per month.

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

Paxton has a violent crime rate of 231.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 556.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Paxton, IL a Good Place to Live?

Paxton is a small town of 4,225 in Illinois, with a median household income of $59,040 and a 1.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Paxton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Paxton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Paxton 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: 88.2

Paxton's overall cost of living index is 88.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Paxton costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Paxton, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$114,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$493	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	76.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$59,040	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Paxton's violent crime rate is 231.7 per 100,000 residents — 39% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

231.7 /100k

Property Crime

556.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Paxton is served primarily by Paxton-Buckley-Loda CUD 10. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Paxton, IL	National Avg
School District	Paxton-Buckley-Loda CUD 10	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Paxton sees average highs of 32.1°F in January and 84.1°F in July, with 37.9 inches of annual precipitation and 18.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Paxton, IL
Average High — January	32.1°F
Average High — July	84.1°F
Annual Precipitation	37.9"
Annual Snowfall	18.3"

Demographics

Metric	Paxton, IL	National Avg
Population	4,225	—
Median Age	40.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.1%	18.9%
Asian	1.5%	6.3%
Under 18	23.1%	22.2%
65 and over	20.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Loda, IL 4 mi Ludlow, IL 5 mi Elliott, IL 9 mi Buckley, IL 10 mi Rankin, IL 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Paxton

Paxton, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60957

Paxton vs Other Cities

Paxton, IL vs Loda, IL Paxton, IL vs Ludlow, IL Paxton, IL vs Elliott, IL Paxton, IL vs Buckley, IL Paxton, IL vs Rankin, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Paxton, IL affordable or expensive?

Paxton's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Paxton roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $114,000 and median rent is $493/month.

What is the crime rate in Paxton, IL?

Paxton's violent crime rate is 231.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 556.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Paxton?

Public schools in Paxton are operated by Paxton-Buckley-Loda CUD 10. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.8:1. 19.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Paxton, IL a good place to live?

Paxton, IL has a population of 4,225, a median household income of $59,040, and an unemployment rate of 1.5%. 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 Paxton?

Paxton averages 32.1°F in January and 84.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.9 inches with about 18.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Paxton?

Paxton, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60957.

What is the population of Paxton?

The population of Paxton, Illinois is 4,225 with a median age of 40.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Paxton?

Key numbers for living in Paxton: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $114,000, median household income $59,040, crime index 47 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Paxton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.