Paxton: Demographics & People
Paxton's population stands at 4,131 people, in 1,789 households. Population shrank 1.7% from 4,201 (2022) to 4,131 (2024). Median age 39.3 years. (2.6y younger than Ford County; 1.6y older than Illinois). Children under 18 are 24% of the population. Population is 92% White (non-Hispanic) and 3% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.07). 62% of households are family-led. County health: 37% adult obesity, 18% smoke.
- 2.3 people per household (vs Illinois avg 2.5).
- 38% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Illinois 38%).
- 78 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Illinois 64).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 1.7% from 4,201 (2022) to 4,131 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~4,062 (extrapolated at -0.8%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 3,971.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 18,679 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -1.7% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 4,201 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 4,131 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 4,131 people (vs Illinois 39,460) |
| Population Estimate | 3,971 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 39.3y is 0.4 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 24% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 39.3 years (vs Illinois 37.7y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 23.7% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 4,131 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 981 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 807.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 1,516.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 827 |
| Population under 18 | 981 |
| Median age | 39.3 years (vs Illinois 37.7y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 4,131 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.07 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 4,001 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 26 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 125 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 7.0% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 96.4% |
| Black population | 0.4% (vs Illinois 9.3%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 3.0% (vs Illinois 17.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 92.2% (vs Illinois 54.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.9% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 1% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 3,448 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 620 |
| Share born in this state | 83.5% |
| Share born in another state | 16.5% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 15.0% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.9% |
| Naturalized citizens | 0.7% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 42 |
| From Europe | 6 |
Households & Family Composition
1,789 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 62% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 1,083 families, 28% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 973 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 1,083 |
| Married couples with children | 308 |
| Single-parent households | 25 |
| Average household size | 2.22 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 12.5% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 13 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 6 |
| Family households | 1,116 households (vs Illinois 9,709) |
| Households that are families | 62.4% (at Illinois median) |
| Total households | 1,789 households (vs Illinois 14,867) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 7.3% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%.
| Moved within the county (past year) | 7.3% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 16,300 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 16,295 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 5 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 343 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 8.5% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 193 residents live in group quarters (4.7% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 193 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 15 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 17033 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 17 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 033 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Crawford |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 22.9% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 17.50 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 29.30 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 17033 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Crawford County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 599 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 17033 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Crawford County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 58.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 52.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 52.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 18,667 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.30 |
| Family Score · Schools | 4 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 23.7% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 4,131, declining, family-oriented, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 4,131 people (vs Illinois 39,460) |
| Town Summary · County | Crawford County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade