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Buying a home in Paw Paw, Illinois

The typical owner-occupied home in Paw Paw is worth about $153,900, 42% below the Illinois median of $263,300 and 54% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,911 a year in property taxes, about 1.89% of their home's value, lower than the Illinois rate of 2.01%. The median household earns $65,156 a year, so the median home costs 2.4 times the median income (3.2 times for Illinois). 76% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 62% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Paw Paw at a glance

Paw Paw Illinois U.S.
Median home value $153,900 $263,300 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $2,911 $5,298 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.89% 2.01% 0.94%
Median household income $65,156 $83,390 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 76% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 62% 61% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,301 $1,987 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 23.2% 20.6% 21.0%
Median rent $920 $1,274 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 19.1% 29.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1962 1971 1980
Vacant homes 12.8% 7.7% 10.1%
Population 932 12,694,798 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Paw Paw

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Paw Paw home of $153,900 with 20% down costs about $1,135 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,391, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $48,633 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 21% of the median Paw Paw household income of $65,156; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $206,000.

The median rent here is $920 a month, so owning the median home costs about $215 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$30,780
Loan amount$123,120
Principal and interest$828
Property taxes (1.89% a year)$242
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$64
PMI$0
Total per month$1,135

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,386
Loan amount$151,112
Principal and interest$1,017
Property taxes (1.89% a year)$242
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$64
FHA mortgage insurance$68
Total per month$1,391

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Questions about home buying in Paw Paw

What is the median home value in Paw Paw?

About $153,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Paw Paw?

Homeowners pay a median $2,911 a year, which is about 1.89% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Paw Paw?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,135 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $48,633 a year.

More about Paw Paw

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data