Payson, IL

Full City Profile · Illinois · Adams County County

3.9 /5.0
B+ Good
1,030 Population 880/sq mi density
$62,262 Median Income $31,097 per capita
$118,000 Home Value $169,455 Zillow
$967 Median Rent 22.6% income on rent
53°F Avg Temperature
B+
Overall
3.9 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.2 / 5.0
$62,262 median income, 1.3% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$118,000 home value, $967/mo rent
C+
Education
2.5 / 5.0
19.1% bachelor's degree or higher
Payson experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 27°F in January while summers reach 76°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 38.7 inches. The area receives 17.0 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 42.

Temperature

27°F Jan (-3°C) 76°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average53.0°F
2% below US avg
January Average27°F (-3°C)
July Average76°F (25°C)

Geography

Elevation744 ft (227 m)
Area0.4 sq mi (1.1 km²)
Population Density880/sq mi
Coordinates39.8169°N, 91.2443°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyAdams County County
Nearest AirportQuincy Regional-Baldwin Field (UIN)
9 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 38.7"
2% above US avg
Snowfall 17.0"
Wettest Month (May) 4.89"
Driest Month (Jan) 1.64"

Air Quality

AQI Median42.0
RatingGood
Good Days %90.1%
Unhealthy Days0

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0484 ppm

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score64.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability29.6 / 100
Community Resilience92.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Low
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

2 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M2.9. Most recent: M2.6 on Sep 19, 2024.

Feb 8, 2004 6 km SSW of Stoutsville, Missouri M2.9 66 km
Sep 19, 2024 1 km S of Old Monroe, Missouri M2.6 109 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tornado History

414 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 9 fatalities, 203 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Mar 12, 2006 EF4 90 km 0
May 13, 1995 EF4 85 km 0
Apr 4, 2023 EF3 97 km 0
Mar 13, 2006 EF3 86 km 0
May 10, 2003 EF3 45 km 0
Apr 8, 1999 EF3 62 km 0
Jun 21, 1981 EF3 70 km 1
Apr 13, 1974 EF3 88 km 0
Apr 13, 1974 EF3 54 km 0
Sep 30, 1973 EF3 53 km 0
May 1, 1973 EF3 79 km 2
Apr 20, 1973 EF3 97 km 0
Jun 12, 1970 EF3 90 km 0
Jan 24, 1967 EF3 95 km 1
Jan 24, 1967 EF3 94 km 1
Apr 21, 1964 EF3 80 km 0
May 14, 1961 EF3 12 km 0
Apr 24, 1961 EF3 15 km 0
May 21, 1957 EF3 85 km 0
Aug 4, 2023 EF2 94 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 27°F (-3°C) 1.6 in Coldest, Driest
February 31°F (-0°C) 2.0 in
March 42°F (6°C) 2.3 in
April 53°F (12°C) 4.1 in
May 64°F (18°C) 4.9 in Wettest
June 73°F (23°C) 4.9 in
July 76°F (25°C) 3.5 in Warmest
August 75°F (24°C) 3.9 in
September 67°F (19°C) 4.0 in
October 55°F (13°C) 3.2 in
November 42°F (6°C) 2.5 in
December 32°F (-0°C) 1.8 in

Payson has a seasonal temperature swing of 50°F / from 27°F in January to 76°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 38.7 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.9") and January the driest (1.6").

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