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Living in
Champaign.
About
Life in Champaign
If you're considering Champaign, you're looking at a college town with real economic diversification—it's not just about the University of Illinois, though that drives a lot of the character and brings a younger demographic. The tech sector here is legit, with major employers like State Farm, Caterpillar, and IBM alongside an active startup scene that has launched over 350 companies through the Research Park's incubator since 2014. Job market is solid with 4.1% unemployment, and your commute will likely be quick—average is just 15 minutes.
Champaign at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
26.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
25.9%
Foreign-Born
16.9%
Broadband Internet
91.4%
of households
Population Growth
+3.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.9% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Champaign: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Champaign, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (26.0%), and 5.7% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
15.9%
of residents
65 and Older
10.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
18.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
41.3%
of households
Married Couples
32.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.21
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 12% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Champaign
In Champaign, rent runs 12% below the IL average, and home values are 20% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
31.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,639
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
43.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1985
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $236,141 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below IL average
Unemployment in Champaign
Unemployment in Champaign is 0.5 percentage points lower than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Champaign Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute14.9 min avg
How Champaign residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Champaign, most residents drive alone to work (59%), and 92% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
University of Illinois Willard Airport (CMI)
Regional airport · few flights87k passengers boarded in 2025
- 106 mi
Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
Medium hub5.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 130 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 13% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Champaign runs 13% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
373.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,085.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Champaign Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 27 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
90.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Champaign County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Champaign County, which includes Champaign, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 27 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $250 |
| 2023 | 19 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $12,000 |
| 2020 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5.2M |
| 2019 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $235,000 |
| 2018 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.7M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Champaign County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Champaign County, which includes Champaign, is typically good — 240 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
240
per year
Moderate Days
121
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Champaign County, county-wide
Climate84°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Champaign has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
37°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.8"
Annual Snowfall
20.8"
Hot Days/Year
23
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
120
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
123
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 18°F | 2.31" |
| Feb | 38°F | 21°F | 2.18" |
| Mar | 50°F | 31°F | 2.77" |
| Apr | 63°F | 42°F | 3.94" |
| May | 74°F | 53°F | 4.78" |
| Jun | 83°F | 62°F | 4.58" |
| Jul | 85°F | 65°F | 4.49" |
| Aug | 84°F | 64°F | 3.54" |
| Sep | 79°F | 56°F | 3.37" |
| Oct | 66°F | 44°F | 3.35" |
| Nov | 51°F | 32°F | 3.21" |
| Dec | 39°F | 24°F | 2.40" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Champaign
Champaign has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.4%
of residents
The Pavilion
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Osf Heart of Mary Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.5 mi away · Urbana
Carle Foundation Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.1 mi away · Urbana
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Champaign
Champaign's student/teacher ratio is 13.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 52.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
22
within city limits
Private Schools
8
within city limits
College Degree Rate
52.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Champaign
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Public · 4-year · 36,258 students · in-state tuition $16,354 · 86% graduate · median earnings $87,599 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,348 students · in-state tuition $4,464 · 33% graduate · median earnings $42,861 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Lincoln Home National Historic Site, 76 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Champaign
Champaign has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lincoln Home National Historic Site (76 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
76 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
76 mi awayPublic Libraries in Champaign
Champaign Public Library
200 West Green Street, Champaign
Douglass Branch Library
504 East Grove Street, Champaign
Cities Near Champaign
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Champaign?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Champaign FAQ
Is Champaign, Illinois affordable?⌄
Champaign's median rent is $1,123/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $56,118/year. Median home value is $210,900.
Is Champaign, Illinois safe?⌄
Champaign's violent crime rate was 374 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2086 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Champaign, Illinois?⌄
Champaign has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Champaign, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Champaign is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,123/month and median household income is $56,118/year. The median home value is $210,900. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Champaign, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Champaign is 15 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from