Checked
Ford County, IL
8 cities and towns and 9 ZIP codes in Ford County, Illinois.
Population
13,406
Land area
486sq mi
People per sq mi
28
ZIP codes
9
Cities and towns in Ford County
Ford County at a glance
- Ford County is 88% less dense than Illinois as a whole.
- The median household income is $62,439, 25% below the Illinois median of $83,390.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $122,000 (54% below Illinois) and median rent is $923 a month.
- Its largest cities are Paxton (4,131), Gibson City (3,434) and Piper City (703).
Local data for Ford County, IL
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Ford County, IL, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$62,439
Poverty rate
12.4%
Median home value
$122,000
Prices +4.5% in a year
Median rent
$923/mo
Homeownership
72.3%
Bachelor's or higher
18.9%
Median age
41.9
Average commute
24.6 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (4,108), Irish Americans (1,586), French Americans (430).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.6%
Aug 2026, -1.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$58,289
5,525 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$69,422
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$87.86M
FY 2026, $6,492 per person
PPP loans
$25.64M
722 loans, 2,641 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$15.99K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Ford County, IL, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.5%
- Carpooled8.4%
- Public transit0.2%
- Walked2.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.6%
- Worked from home9.2%
Average one-way commute: 24.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Ford County, IL, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: cold wave
Storm events since 1996
334
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
6
0.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
88° / 16°F
44.4 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone5 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Ford County, IL, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.7%
U.S. 33.3% +4.4 pts
Diabetes
12.4%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
15.8%
U.S. 12.8% +3.0 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.5%
U.S. 11.1% -2.6 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Ford County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Ford County, IL?
- Paxton is the largest city or town in Ford County, with about 4,131 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Ford County?
- Ford County includes 9 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 60919, 60933, 60936, 60946, 60952.
- What is the population of Ford County, IL?
- About 13,406 people live in Ford County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Ford County?
- Ford County borders Champaign County, McLean County, Kankakee County, Vermilion County, Livingston County, Iroquois County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023