Living in Payson, Illinois
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Payson · Census data 2020–2024
Payson has 1,100 residents with a median age of 35.8. The median household income is $60,478 (27% lower than the Illinois median), the median home value is $132,000, the median rent is $768/month.
Payson is a small town, so Census survey estimates have wide margins of error. Treat percentages as approximate.
Payson at a glance
- Population
- 1,100
- Median age
- 35.8State: 39
- Median household income
- $60,478State: $83,390
- Median home value
- $132,000State: $263,300
- Median rent
- $768/moState: $1,274
- Homeowners
- 83%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 17.9%
- Average commute
- 26 min
Is Payson a good place to live?
Pros: Home values 50% lower than the state median; an average commute of 26 minutes; unemployment of 1.3%.
Cons: Median household income 27% lower than the Illinois median; a poverty rate of 12.5%.
The weather is best in May–June and August–September.
Cost of living in Payson
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Payson the median home value is $132,000, 60% lower than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $768 per month, which is 22.3% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,073 a month in housing costs.
Payson median household income
The median household income in Payson is $60,478 and the income per person is $28,792. 12.5% of residents live below the poverty line (Illinois: 11.8%).
Housing in Payson: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 429
- Owner-occupied
- 83%
- Renter-occupied
- 17%
- Vacant
- 8.4%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1973
- Average household size
- 2.80
Payson demographics
- Population
- 1,100
- Median age
- 35.8
- Under 18
- 30.3%
- 65 and older
- 14.4%
- Households
- 393
- Foreign-born
- 0.3%
- Veterans
- 9.4%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Payson ›
Education in Payson
17.9% of adults 25 and older in Payson have a bachelor's degree or higher (Illinois: 37.8%), and 4.6% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Payson
- Unemployment rate
- 1.3%State: 5.8%
- Average commute
- 26 minState: 28 min
- Work from home
- 4.9%
- Drive alone
- 90.9%
- Public transit
- 0%
- Walk to work
- 0%
- Homes with broadband
- 95.4%
Payson vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payson | 1,100 | $60,478 | $132,000 | $768 |
| Plainville | 183 | $76,250 | $98,000 | — |
| Burton | 149 | $108,125 | $138,500 | — |
| Hull | 413 | $60,863 | $96,900 | $633 |
| Liberty | 409 | $78,977 | $137,500 | — |
| Kinderhook | 249 | $60,536 | $70,800 | $656 |
| Quincy | 39,109 | $56,480 | $153,200 | $837 |
| Hannibal | 16,771 | $53,721 | $127,700 | $805 |
| Columbus | 106 | $75,000 | $111,400 | $825 |
More for people moving to Payson
Payson ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Payson: FAQ
What is the median household income in Payson, IL?
The median household income in Payson is $60,478, 27% lower than the Illinois median of $83,390 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Payson?
The median home value in Payson is $132,000, compared with $263,300 in Illinois.
How much is rent in Payson?
The median gross rent in Payson is $768 per month, about 22.3% of household income.
Is Payson, IL a good place to live?
Pluses: home values 50% lower than the state median; an average commute of 26 minutes; unemployment of 1.3%. Minuses: median household income 27% lower than the Illinois median; a poverty rate of 12.5%.
What is the median age in Payson?
The median age in Payson is 35.8 years (Illinois: 39).
How long is the commute in Payson?
The average commute to work in Payson is 26 minutes; 4.9% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Payson?
The unemployment rate in Payson is 1.3% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Payson?
17.9% of adults in Payson have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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