2023 · Bluff Hall Evangelical Free Church · Wikimedia Commons
Payson’s story
Payson in pictures
4 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
PaysonIL
A town of 1,100. Healthier than 65% of U.S. towns.
Photo: Gerry Dincher · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,100
−0.1% since 2010
Median home value
$132K
Census ACS
Household income
$60K
median
Median age
35.8
years
Jobs based here
114
A commuter town
What makes Payson stand out
The thing Payson does most differently from other towns.
Small town
1,100 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Payson’s report card
Now in Payson
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Payson? Is a B for health right?
Your answer becomes a post in Payson’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →72°
Light Rain
H 74° · L 57°
Local news
All →Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Payson. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Payson
Most working residents leave Payson for work: only 3% work in town. The top destinations are Quincy (36%), Ellington (11%) and Melrose (5%). Half commute less than 12 miles.
3%work in town
Where working residents work
In Payson3%
Quincy36%
Ellington11%
Melrose5%
Springfield5%
12 mi
median commute distance
114
jobs based in Payson
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Payson has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 19°, and about 17 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
17″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter22–38°
Spring43–63°
Summer65–85°
Fall45–65°
Oct 23
typical first frost
Apr 14
typical last frost
+0.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
Healthier than 65% of U.S. towns
Payson beats the Illinois average on 6 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1.
BHealth Grade
32 measures vs. Illinois
6 better25 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Payson | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 7.1% | 9.9% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 11.8% | 15.9% |
| More adults with depression | 23.7% | 19.8% |
Blessing Hospital
11.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
60th
percentile among IL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 49% of U.S. communities.
49risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesHeat waves
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Housing
Homes in Payson sell for about $37K
The median sale price was $37,000 in May 2026.
$37Kmedian sale price
1
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Outdoors
0% of Payson is conserved land
0.0 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves.
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 745 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ken Morgan Memorial Park | — | 4 |
| 2. Payson South Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave Payson for work
Where Payson’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
114jobs based in Payson
3%of working residents work in town
12 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Payson
4 notable people were born in Payson.
About Payson
Village in Illinois, US
Payson is a village in Adams County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,025 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Quincy, IL–MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 1,025
- Area
- 1.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 745 ft
- ZIP code
- 62360
More about Payson
Still missing for Payson:upcoming events