Median Age
29 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 29% of Residents
Under 20
24%
Over 65
12%
Champaign, IL Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,099
Population
89,529
Renter Mix
62% Rent
Home of the Fighting Illini and hub of the Silicon Prairie.
Affordable
•
College
•
Bike-Friendly
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.
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 July 2026, the average apartment rent in Champaign, IL is $912 for a studio, $1,099 for one bedroom, $1,289 for two bedrooms, and $1,542 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Champaign has increased by 1.5% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,099/month
661 Sq Ft
House
$2,064/month
1,368 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,406/month
662 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,988/month
1,317 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Champaign, IL is 2.4% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Champaign is 9.4% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $912 - $1,542. You can expect to pay 2.4% less for groceries, 5.6% more for utilities, and 0.1% less for transportation.
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Learn More About Champaign
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Champaign, IL is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
50
/ 100
Some Public Transit
Transit
50
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
50
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
438 Students
Public
Grades K-5
432 Students
Vernon L Barkstall Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
426 Students
Public
Grades K-5
303 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
681 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
705 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
681 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
640 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
655 Students
Public
Grades K-12
Public
Grades 9-12
1,389 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,596 Students
Public
Grades K-12
Public
Grades 9-12
Public
Grades 9-12
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Staerkel Planetarium
- Orpheum Children's Science Museum
- Anita Purves Nature Center
- University of Illinois Arboretum
- Meadowbrook Park and Interpretive Center
Commuter Rail
Airports
- University of Illinois/Willard
Colleges
Top Apartments in Champaign
Houses for Rent in Champaign
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
Nearby City Guides
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 June 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.