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CITY

Payson

Illinois · 994 residents (2025 est.) · 1.17 sq mi
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The short version

Payson has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $60,478. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $132,000. Households here earn about 27% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 27%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,100
+3%since 2000
from 1,066 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
940 / sq mi
+3%since 2000
from 911 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
35.8
+7%since 2000
from 33.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:994 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
9921K1K1K1K1990201020202024Payson
20241K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$60,478
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,321 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,792
+98%since 2000
from $14,541 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
32.8%
+19.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.5%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 9.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.448
+34%since 2010
from 0.334 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information16.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Other services4.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Construction4.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing4.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration4.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.9%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$132,000
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $57,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$768
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $364 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
83.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 82.3% in 2000
17.0% rent
Vacancy rate
8.4%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.5%
−7.3 ptssince 2009
from 24.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
17.9%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 21.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.2
+43%since 2000
from 1.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
58
RELATED:See current rent listings in Payson on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.2%(1,047)
Black0.1%(1)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(6)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
Diversity Score1.7%(18)
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.3%(1,026)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(17)
Asian2.5%(28)
Other2.6%(29)
Diversity Score16.1%(177)
Diversity Score
16
+873%since 2000
from 2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.9%
+8.6 ptssince 2000
from 9.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.9%
+10.6 ptssince 2000
from 85.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.6%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.1 min
+131%since 2000
from 11.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
90.9%
+12.1 ptssince 2009
from 78.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.2%
−8.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.9%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
0.0%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.3%
−7.1 ptssince 2011
from 8.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
67.6%
−5.9 ptssince 2011
from 73.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
7.8%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
25.2%
−39.6 ptssince 2009
from 64.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.8%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
52.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
0.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.4%
−36.4 ptssince 2009
from 45.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
22.0%
+8.4 ptssince 2012
from 13.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.1%
−81.9 ptssince 2013
from 88.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
95.4%
+18.5 ptssince 2017
from 76.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 100.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Payson to nearby cities

PAYSON VS
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Income$56,480−7%
Home value$153,200+16%
Population38,918+3815%
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PAYSON VS
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Home value$127,700−3%
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PAYSON VS
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Home value$104,300−21%
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PAYSON VS
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Income$44,411−27%
Home value$103,300−22%
Population14,530+1362%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Payson, Illinois?

Payson, Illinois has about 1,100 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Payson, Illinois?

The typical household in Payson, Illinois earns about $60,478 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Payson, Illinois expensive?

In Payson, Illinois, the median home is worth about $132,000, and the typical rent is about $768 a month.

How educated are people in Payson, Illinois?

About 17.9% of adults age 25 and over in Payson, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Payson, Illinois?

About 12.5% of people in Payson, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Payson, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Payson, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 23 residents, a change of about -2 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →