The Town FilesEl Paso, Illinois
City in Woodford County · population 2,756 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $159,400
- Household income
- $75,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 38.2
El Paso is a city of 2,756 people in Woodford County, Illinois. The median home is worth $159,400, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 81% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 78% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 74% of Illinois towns.
How El Paso 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 El Paso is worth $159,400, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $75,625, which is more affordable than 55% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $881 a month. 75.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | El Paso | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $159,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $881 | $960 |
| Median household income | $75,625 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 75.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in El Paso
| People | El Paso | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.2% | 90.4% |
Weather in El Paso
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 15.2°F. About 37.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of El Paso since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 13, 2004 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on July 13, 2004.
Severe weather in Woodford County since 1996
Woodford County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Woodford County
Woodford County had 11,428 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,993 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in El Paso itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in El Paso
3 public schools with 786 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso-Gridley High School | 9-12 | 355 | 12.2 |
| Jefferson Park School | PK-2 | 261 | 13.1 |
| Centennial School | 3-4 | 170 | 14.2 |
Towns near El Paso
- Eureka, IL13.7 mi · 5,227 people · home $154,300
- Normal, IL15.3 mi · 52,736 people · home $213,600
- Bloomington, IL18.5 mi · 78,680 people · home $203,300
- Metamora, IL18.7 mi · 3,904 people · home $201,800
- Washington, IL21.9 mi · 16,071 people · home $221,900
- Pontiac, IL22.2 mi · 11,150 people · home $116,300
- Germantown Hills, IL23.4 mi · 3,412 people · home $264,900
- Morton, IL25.1 mi · 17,117 people · home $239,400
El Paso questions
Is El Paso, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, El Paso scores better for retirees than 35% of Illinois towns and quieter than 66%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.2).
How much does a house cost in El Paso?
The median owner-occupied home in El Paso is valued at $159,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,625, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $881 a month.
What is the weather like in El Paso?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 15.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.6 inches of precipitation a year and 23.5 inches of snow.
Does El Paso get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of El Paso since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 13, 2004. 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)