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Living in
Rantoul.
About
Life in Rantoul
Rantoul is a community of 12,515 people in Illinois. The median household income is $48,691, median rent runs about $890 per month, and median home values are around $118,200. The unemployment rate is 4.1%.
Rantoul at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.9%
Foreign-Born
8.9%
Broadband Internet
83.8%
of households
Population Growth
-3.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Rantoul: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Rantoul, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (47.0%), and 14.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.7%
of residents
65 and Older
14.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
41.3%
of households
Married Couples
35.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.28
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 30% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Rantoul
In Rantoul, rent runs 30% below the IL average, and home values are 55% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
11.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,670
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1966
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $141,150 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below IL average
Unemployment in Rantoul
Unemployment in Champaign County, which includes Rantoul, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Rantoul: Champaign County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Champaign County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Rantoul Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.5 min avg
How Rantoul residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Rantoul, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 74% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 20 mi
University of Illinois Willard Airport (CMI)
Regional airport · few flights87k passengers boarded in 2025
- 104 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 116 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 59% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Rantoul runs 59% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
522.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,330.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Rantoul 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 Rantoul, 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 Rantoul, 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
Climate86°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Rantoul has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
64°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
38°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.4"
Annual Snowfall
17.4"
Hot Days/Year
33
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
130
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
102
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 16°F | 2.54" |
| Feb | 40°F | 20°F | 2.01" |
| Mar | 51°F | 29°F | 2.58" |
| Apr | 64°F | 40°F | 3.98" |
| May | 75°F | 51°F | 4.33" |
| Jun | 85°F | 62°F | 4.61" |
| Jul | 88°F | 64°F | 4.44" |
| Aug | 86°F | 62°F | 3.86" |
| Sep | 81°F | 54°F | 3.28" |
| Oct | 67°F | 42°F | 3.32" |
| Nov | 52°F | 31°F | 3.19" |
| Dec | 40°F | 22°F | 2.21" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Rantoul
Uninsured
10.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Rantoul's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Carle Foundation Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.2 mi away · Urbana
Osf Heart of Mary Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.4 mi away · Urbana
The Pavilion
Psychiatric · 13.8 mi away · Champaign
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.
Education12.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Rantoul
Rantoul's student/teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 12.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
12.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Rantoul (within 15 miles)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
14.3 mi awayPublic · 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, 86 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Rantoul
Rantoul has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lincoln Home National Historic Site (86 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
86 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
86 mi awayPullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Rantoul
Rantoul Public Library
106 West Flessner Avenue, Rantoul
Cities Near Rantoul
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Rantoul?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Rantoul FAQ
Is Rantoul, Illinois affordable?⌄
Rantoul's median rent is $890/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $48,691/year. Median home value is $118,200.
Is Rantoul, Illinois safe?⌄
Rantoul's violent crime rate was 522 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1330 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Rantoul, Illinois?⌄
Champaign County, which includes Rantoul, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Rantoul, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Rantoul is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $890/month and median household income is $48,691/year. The median home value is $118,200. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Rantoul, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Rantoul is 20 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