The Town FilesRantoul, Illinois
Village in Champaign County · population 12,371 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $118,200
- Household income
- $48,691
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 36.6
Rantoul is a village of 12,371 people in Champaign County, Illinois. The median home is worth $118,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Illinois towns.
How Rantoul 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 Rantoul is worth $118,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $48,691, which is more affordable than 42% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $890 a month. 55.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rantoul | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $118,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $890 | $960 |
| Median household income | $48,691 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 55.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rantoul
| People | Rantoul | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.9% | — |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in Rantoul
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 15.8°F. About 40.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 130 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rantoul since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on November 17, 2013 about 3.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 28, 2019.
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 Rantoul itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Rantoul
8 public schools with 2,539 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rantoul Twp High School | 9-12 | 849 | 12.7 |
| J W Eater Jr High School | 6-8 | 515 | 11.0 |
| Pleasant Acres Elem School | K-5 | 297 | 12.4 |
| Eastlawn Elem School | K-4 | 260 | 11.3 |
| Broadmeadow Elem School | K-5 | 243 | 12.2 |
| Northview Elem School | K-5 | 241 | 11.0 |
| Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 134 | 22.3 |
| Rise Academy at JW Eater | 5-8 | — | — |
Towns near Rantoul
- Paxton, IL11.0 mi · 4,450 people · home $120,400
- Urbana, IL13.5 mi · 38,336 people · home $184,900
- St. Joseph, IL14.4 mi · 3,810 people · home $270,900
- Champaign, IL14.5 mi · 88,302 people · home $210,900
- Mahomet, IL14.6 mi · 9,434 people · home $299,100
- Gibson City, IL16.4 mi · 3,475 people · home $153,800
- Savoy, IL17.6 mi · 8,857 people · home $320,300
- Tolono, IL22.2 mi · 3,604 people · home $208,600
Rantoul questions
Is Rantoul, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rantoul scores better for retirees than 15% of Illinois towns and quieter than 34%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.6).
How much does a house cost in Rantoul?
The median owner-occupied home in Rantoul is valued at $118,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,691, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $890 a month.
What is the weather like in Rantoul?
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 15.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.4 inches of precipitation a year and 18.4 inches of snow.
Does Rantoul get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rantoul since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on November 17, 2013. 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)