Paw Paw, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Paw Paw, Illinois had a total population of 932, the 717th largest village in Illinois, with a median household income of $65,156, which is 22% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 8.3%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x.
Paw Paw Quick Facts
How Paw Paw Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 911 | 932 | +2.3% |
| Median household income | $63,833 | $65,156 | +2.1% |
| Median home value | $151,100 | $153,900 | +1.9% |
How Paw Paw Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 61 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Paw Paw Rankings in Illinois
Explore Illinois Rankings
Other Cities in Lee County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dixon | 14,910 | $59,406 | 17.8% | $120,800 |
| Amboy | 2,384 | $68,258 | 13.3% | $134,800 |
| Franklin Grove | 988 | $58,618 | 12.8% | $124,400 |
| Ashton | 935 | $62,778 | 14.5% | $114,200 |
| Sublette | 454 | $66,250 | 19.8% | $138,300 |
| Lee | 320 | $82,000 | 19.2% | $150,500 |
| Steward | 271 | $102,500 | 2.6% | $148,000 |
| Compton | 259 | $57,500 | 6.6% | $80,800 |
| West Brooklyn | 152 | $76,250 | 3.3% | $85,000 |
| Nelson | 125 | $39,250 | 21.6% | $86,300 |
Cities Similar to Paw Paw
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chebanse | 920 | $65,278 | $161,500 | 17.8% | 1.5% |
| Ashton | 935 | $62,778 | $114,200 | 11.7% | 14.5% |
| Thomasboro | 918 | $64,038 | $111,800 | 15.3% | 13.2% |
| Nauvoo | 931 | $68,750 | $156,700 | 35.6% | 28.7% |
| Greenview | 912 | $63,594 | $93,700 | 16.3% | 9.0% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 932, Paw Paw's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Paw Paw is a small community located in Illinois, within Lee County. The total population is 932. It ranks as the 717th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.
Age Demographics
The median age in Paw Paw is 40.9 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Paw Paw is $65,156. This is 22% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 19% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.3%. This is 30% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. This is 21% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $153,900. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Paw Paw is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 67.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Paw Paw has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (94.3% vs 58.1%). The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.0%) is well below the state average of 18.8%.
Education
12.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 66% lower than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Paw Paw, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Illinois state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Paw Paw, Illinois?
Paw Paw, Illinois has a population of 932 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Paw Paw, IL?
The median household income in Paw Paw is $65,156, which is 19% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Paw Paw, IL?
The poverty rate in Paw Paw is 8.3%. This means approximately 77 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Paw Paw, Illinois?
Paw Paw's population is 94.3% White, 0.6% Black, 4.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Paw Paw, IL?
The median home value in Paw Paw is $153,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.4x.
How educated is Paw Paw, Illinois?
12.8% of adults (25+) in Paw Paw hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.