The Town FilesChampaign, Illinois
City in Champaign County · population 88,302 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $210,900
- Household income
- $56,118
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 37
- Median age
- 26.6
Champaign is a city of 88,302 people in Champaign County, Illinois. The median home is worth $210,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 98% of Illinois towns, hipper than 97% of Illinois towns.
How Champaign ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Champaign is worth $210,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $56,118, which is more affordable than 7% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,123 a month. 43.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Champaign | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $210,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,123 | $960 |
| Median household income | $56,118 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 43.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Champaign
| People | Champaign | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 26.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 2.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.9% | — |
| Work from home | 17.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 14.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Champaign
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 17.9°F. About 40.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 120 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Champaign since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 20, 1976 about 7.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 40 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 71 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 30, 2008.
Severe weather in Champaign County since 1996
Champaign County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 21, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1416: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Champaign County
Champaign County had 94,777 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,216 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Champaign itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Champaign
22 public schools with 9,912 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High School | 9-12 | 1,642 | 13.8 |
| Centennial High School | 9-12 | 1,473 | 13.9 |
| Jefferson Middle School | 6-8 | 711 | 13.7 |
| International Prep Academy | PK-8 | 650 | 13.0 |
| Edison Middle School | 6-8 | 646 | 13.5 |
| Franklin Middle School | 6-8 | 632 | 12.2 |
| Bottenfield Elem School | K-5 | 439 | 14.2 |
| Robeson Elem School | K-5 | 432 | 13.9 |
| Stratton Elementary School | K-5 | 422 | 12.4 |
| Westview Elem School | K-5 | 418 | 13.5 |
| Vernon L Barkstall Elementary Sch | K-5 | 408 | 14.1 |
| Dr Howard Elem School | K-5 | 380 | 12.3 |
Towns near Champaign
- Savoy, IL3.9 mi · 8,857 people · home $320,300
- Urbana, IL4.1 mi · 38,336 people · home $184,900
- Mahomet, IL8.0 mi · 9,434 people · home $299,100
- Tolono, IL8.5 mi · 3,604 people · home $208,600
- St. Joseph, IL12.6 mi · 3,810 people · home $270,900
- Rantoul, IL14.5 mi · 12,371 people · home $118,200
- Monticello, IL16.8 mi · 5,941 people · home $210,500
- Tuscola, IL22.0 mi · 4,636 people · home $154,300
Champaign questions
Is Champaign, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Champaign scores better for retirees than 14% of Illinois towns and quieter than 4%. 10.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 26.6).
How much does a house cost in Champaign?
The median owner-occupied home in Champaign is valued at $210,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,118, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,123 a month.
What is the weather like in Champaign?
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 17.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.9 inches of precipitation a year and 20.8 inches of snow.
Does Champaign get tornadoes?
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Champaign since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 20, 1976. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)