The Town FilesParis, Illinois
City in Edgar County · population 8,291 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $75,700
- Household income
- $53,927
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 42.4
Paris is a city of 8,291 people in Edgar County, Illinois. The median home is worth $75,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 89% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 76% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 73% of Illinois towns.
How Paris ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Paris is worth $75,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $53,927, which is more affordable than 93% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $777 a month. 64.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Paris | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $75,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $777 | $960 |
| Median household income | $53,927 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 64.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Paris
| People | Paris | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 1.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 14.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Paris
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 16.6°F. About 42.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 117 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paris since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 2, 2025 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 28, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 19, 1996.
Severe weather in Edgar County since 1996
Edgar County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Edgar County
Edgar County had 7,065 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,835 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Paris itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Paris
11 public schools with 1,840 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris Cooperative High School 95 | 9-12 | 362 | — |
| Memorial Elementary School | PK-2 | 307 | 12.8 |
| Crestwood Elem School | PK-5 | 298 | 13.5 |
| Carolyn Wenz Elem School | 3-5 | 256 | 13.5 |
| Mayo Middle School | 6-8 | 241 | 9.6 |
| Paris Cooperative High School 4 | 9-12 | 179 | — |
| Crestwood Jr High School | 6-8 | 128 | 18.3 |
| Creative Center for Children | PK-PK | 69 | 17.3 |
| Paris Cooperative High School | 9-12 | — | — |
| Paris Bridges | 6-12 | — | — |
| Paris TAOEP | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Paris
- Marshall, IL14.9 mi · 3,947 people · home $118,500
- Clinton, IN15.5 mi · 4,831 people · home $101,600
- North Terre Haute, IN18.1 mi · 4,222 people · home $152,900
- Terre Haute, IN19.7 mi · 58,389 people · home $115,700
- Georgetown, IL25.2 mi · 3,143 people · home $71,800
- Rockville, IN26.6 mi · 2,510 people · home $99,600
- Charleston, IL27.5 mi · 17,286 people · home $137,400
- Westville, IL29.8 mi · 3,167 people · home $100,000
Paris questions
Is Paris, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Paris scores better for retirees than 48% of Illinois towns and quieter than 50%. 21.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.4).
How much does a house cost in Paris?
The median owner-occupied home in Paris is valued at $75,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,927, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $777 a month.
What is the weather like in Paris?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 16.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.7 inches of precipitation a year and 19.1 inches of snow.
Does Paris get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paris since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 2, 2025. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)