Paxton Carnegie Public Library is in the Ford County, Illinois city of Paxton. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is still used by the Paxton Carnegie Library and is open as a public library.

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4 on the National Register · #73 in ILHistoric places →

Know Paxton

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About Paxton

City in Illinois, United States

1859Established

4,450Population

3 sq miArea

798 ftElevation

Paxton is a city in and the county seat of Ford County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,450 at the 2020 census.

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From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Paxton ranks

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#115Cheapest rent in IL #157Most affordable in IL #225Lowest property tax in IL All IL rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code60957

Area code217

Living in Paxton

Housing in Paxton

$156K▲ 3.5% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Paxton home is worth about $156,000, up 3.5% in a year, 48% below the Illinois typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Paxton

—

Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Paxton's police department reported only 2023 and 2024, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000

Paxton 2.3

Illinois 2.9

U.S. 3.6

Property crime per 1,000

Paxton 5.6

Illinois 17.7

U.S. 17.7

FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Paxton

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About one in 5 of Paxton’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Champaign (12%), Rantoul (7%) and Urbana (7%). Half commute less than 24 miles.

Champaign

12%

Rantoul

Urbana

Gibson City

21%Work in townlive and work in Paxton 24 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 1,669Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Paxton →

Health in Paxton

Health Grade B

Healthier than 59% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 83% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Illinois

3better than IL·3worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 26 are too close to call.

Conditions 3▼ 9 close Habits all close Care 1▲ 6 close Mind all close Everyday needs 2▲ 2 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

7.5%Fewer uninsured adultsIL 9.9% · better 10.3%Fewer adults facing housing insecurityIL 13.2% · better 9.5%More adults who have had cancerIL 7.6% · worse

Care nearby

Gibson Community HospitalGibson City · 14.1 mi · ER · rural critical access

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Wic ClinicRantoul · 10.6 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Paxton · CMS · HRSAHealth in Paxton →

Natural hazards in Paxton

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 21% of U.S. communities.

🥶 Cold waves🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes

1Does Paxton flood?paid flood claims since 1993 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Paxton

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Paxton →

Climate in Paxton

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Paxton has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 17°, and about 18 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

36° / 20°Winter

62° / 40°Spring

84° / 62°Summer

65° / 43°Fall