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Living in
Urbana.
About
Life in Urbana
Living in Urbana means being part of a college town where the University of Illinois significantly shapes the community — over 50,000 students live here, which keeps the area young, diverse, and culturally active year-round. The median rent is about $972 a month and median home values around $186,300, making it genuinely affordable by most standards, though the median household income of $45,346 means you'll want to budget carefully. The job market is stable with 4.3% unemployment, and your average commute is under 15 minutes, which is a real quality-of-life advantage.
Urbana at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
26.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
28.0%
Foreign-Born
21.2%
Broadband Internet
87.8%
of households
Population Growth
+1.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics21.2% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Urbana: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Urbana, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (22.4%), and 6.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
13.2%
of residents
65 and Older
11.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
14.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
48.1%
of households
Married Couples
25.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.98
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 24% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Urbana
In Urbana, rent runs 24% below the IL average, and home values are 30% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,491
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
37.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1980
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $204,825 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Urbana
Unemployment in Urbana is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Urbana Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute14.2 min avg
How Urbana residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Urbana, most residents drive alone to work (48%), 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
- 105 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 34% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Urbana runs 34% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
441.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,515.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Urbana 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 Urbana, 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 Urbana, 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
Urbana 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
40.2"
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" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 2.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Urbana
Urbana has 2 hospitals, averaging 2.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
5.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.5 / 5
Osf Heart of Mary Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Carle Foundation Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
The Pavilion
Psychiatric · 3.2 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.
Education14.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Urbana
Urbana's student/teacher ratio is 14.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 56.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
13
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
56.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Urbana (within 15 miles)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
1.7 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: Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument, 79 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Urbana
Urbana has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument (79 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
79 mi awayLincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
80 mi awayPublic Libraries in Urbana
Urbana Free Library
210 West Green Street, Urbana
Cities Near Urbana
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Urbana?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Urbana FAQ
Is Urbana, Illinois affordable?⌄
Urbana's median rent is $972/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $45,346/year. Median home value is $184,900.
Is Urbana, Illinois safe?⌄
Urbana's violent crime rate was 442 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2515 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Urbana, Illinois?⌄
Urbana has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Urbana, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Urbana is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $972/month and median household income is $45,346/year. The median home value is $184,900. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Urbana, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Urbana is 14 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