Champaign

Boulder Ridge is a newer subdivision in West Champaign with newer homes in the north area.
Volunteers maintain the University Of Illinois Arboretum gardens near Historic East Urbana.
Downtown Champaign has many outdoor cafes to choose from.
Big Grove Tavern has a wonderful outdoor patio in Downtown Champaign.
Condos are available in the heart of Downtown Champaign.

Champaign, IL Area Guide

Avg Rent

$1,078

Population

89,529

Renter Mix

62% Rent

Home of the Fighting Illini and hub of the Silicon Prairie.

Affordable College Bike-Friendly Live Music Arts Family-Friendly Sports

Welcome to Champaign, Illinois, where academic excellence meets Midwestern hospitality. As home to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, this city of approximately 89,000 residents combines educational opportunities with a strong sense of community. Housing options range from established neighborhoods with historic single-family homes to apartment communities near campus in Campustown. Current rental trends show steady growth, with average one-bedroom apartments renting for $1,014, reflecting a 4.4% increase over the previous year, while two-bedroom units average $1,194, up 3.1%.

Champaign's technology sector continues to grow, centered around the Research Park at the University of Illinois, where companies like Abbott, IBM, and State Farm maintain offices. The city features 60 public parks across 654 acres, including the popular West Side Park and Hessel Park. Downtown Champaign's historic district offers local shops and restaurants, anchored by the restored Virginia Theatre, home to Roger Ebert's Film Festival. The Orpheum Children's Science Museum, housed in a 1914 theater, adds to the city's educational attractions. Regular events like the Champaign Farmers' Market and the annual Taste of Champaign-Urbana festival showcase the area's strong community spirit and local culture.

Explore the City

Downtown Champaign has many outdoor cafes to choose from.

Big Grove Tavern has a wonderful outdoor patio in Downtown Champaign.

Condos are available in the heart of Downtown Champaign.

The Main Quad at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is an easy walk from Campustown.

Hill Street East residents can attend nearby University of Illinois football games.

There are many beautiful homes in the quiet Boulder Ridge area.

Demographics

Median Household Income

$51,109

Average: $73,315

Education

34,104

Residents Have a Degree

Job Market

42,284

Workers Employed

Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.

Median Age

29 Years

Largest Age Group

20-29 Years

Approximately 29% of Residents

Under 20

24%

Over 65

12%

Housing Distribution

Champaign has more renters than homeowners.

Renters
62%
Non-Renters
38%

Education Distribution

Review this city's overall education levels.

Bachelor's or Higher
32%
Other Education
68%

Rent Trends

As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Champaign, IL is $935 for a studio, $1,077 for one bedroom, $1,271 for two bedrooms, and $1,475 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Champaign has increased by 1.6% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,077/month
658 Sq Ft
House
$1,909/month
1,296 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,469/month
1,053 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,740/month
1,054 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Champaign, IL

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Champaign, IL is 2.2% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Champaign is 9.1% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $935 - $1,475. You can expect to pay 2.2% less for groceries, 4.8% more for utilities, and 1.2% more for transportation.

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Getting Around

Fairly Walkable

Walkability

50 / 100

Some Public Transit

Transit

50 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

100 / 100

Fairly Bikeable

Bikeability

50 / 100

Schools

Vernon L Barkstall Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

384 Students

South Side Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

289 Students

International Prep Academy

Public

Grades K-8

568 Students

Bottenfield Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

453 Students

Kenwood Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

344 Students

Edison Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

699 Students

International Prep Academy

Public

Grades K-8

568 Students

Jefferson Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

738 Students

Franklin Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

677 Students

Actions Program

Public

Grades K-12

Central High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,597 Students

Centennial High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,444 Students

Novak Academy

Public

Grades 9-12

Re-Start Program

Public

Grades 9-12

Educ For Employment Sys 330

Public

Grades 9-12

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Staerkel Planetarium
  • Orpheum Children's Science Museum
  • Anita Purves Nature Center
  • University of Illinois Arboretum
  • Meadowbrook Park and Interpretive Center

Airports

  • University of Illinois/Willard

Top Apartments in Champaign

Houses for Rent in Champaign

Property Management Companies in Champaign, IL

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.