1st Advantage MortgageThe median Champaign County household earns $63,683, and 19% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Illinois before sharing details.
On this page
- A quick profile of Champaign County
- Paychecks and income spread in Champaign County
- Work, industries and travel time in Champaign County
- Champaign County housing compared with Illinois
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Champaign County
- How Champaign County compares with nearby counties
- Champaign County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Champaign County
- A Champaign County household budget, worked through
- Lender oversight for Champaign County
- Four steps for Champaign County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Champaign County
Roughly 208,741 residents live in Champaign County, Illinois, 10th by population among the state's 102 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 996 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 210 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 27 Census places inside Champaign County, Champaign leads by population with about 89,996; 23 of the 27 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Champaign County
At $63,683, the typical Champaign County household income is 3% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 64 Illinois counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Champaign County | vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.7% | +9.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.6% | +0.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.3% | -5.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.4% | -4.4 pts |
Some 31% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 19.1% of Champaign County residents in poverty, against 11.8% across Illinois. None of these numbers decides a Champaign County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Champaign County
The biggest employer of Champaign County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 41% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (10%). Compared with Illinois, the county leans toward education and health care (41% against 24%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.3% in Champaign County. About 64% drive to work alone and 5% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 12.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Champaign County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 40.8% | +17.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.8% | -3.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | +0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.6% | -1.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.0% | -3.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.2% | -2.2 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Champaign County housing compared with Illinois
Renters in Champaign County pay a median of $1,051 a month, 18% below the Illinois figure of $1,274. By the Census definition, 54% of Champaign County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $211,500, a typical Champaign County house costs 3.3 times what the median household earns in a year. 54% of Champaign County households own their home and 46% rent. Median construction year: 1981.
| Housing | Champaign County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,051/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $211,500 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 54% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 27% | n/a |
For the many renters in Champaign County, deposits, moving costs and card balances are typical reasons to borrow. Keep the amount small and the term short. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Champaign County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 27 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 87% of Champaign County residents live in one of the 27. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $45,346 in Urbana to $120,789 in St. Joseph. Rent is cheapest in Gifford ($555) and steepest in Pesotum ($1,554). This guide covers each of the 27 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign | city | 89,996 | $56,118 | $1,123 | 4 mi |
| Urbana | city | 39,341 | $45,346 | $972 | 2 mi |
| Rantoul | village | 12,421 | $48,691 | $890 | 12 mi |
| Mahomet | village | 10,049 | $118,586 | $1,396 | 11 mi |
| Savoy | village | 8,968 | $91,966 | $1,003 | 6 mi |
| St. Joseph | village | 3,778 | $120,789 | $968 | 9 mi |
| Tolono | village | 3,566 | $69,653 | $945 | 11 mi |
| Lake of the Woods | CDP | 2,091 | $61,625 | $1,190 | 10 mi |
| Fisher | village | 1,605 | $97,702 | $917 | 15 mi |
| Philo | village | 1,487 | $105,625 | $1,222 | 10 mi |
| Homer | village | 1,245 | $85,875 | $979 | 15 mi |
| Sidney | village | 936 | $88,618 | $1,094 | 10 mi |
| Thomasboro | village | 918 | $64,038 | $808 | 7 mi |
| Gifford | village | 822 | $76,964 | $555 | 15 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
How Champaign County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Piatt County at 23 miles out to Edgar County at 40. Income ranges from $56,877 in Vermilion County to $94,811 in Piatt County; 3 of these neighbors top Champaign County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign County | - | $63,683 | $1,051/mo | 54% |
| Piatt County, IL | 23 mi | $94,811 | $1,046/mo | 85% |
| Vermilion County, IL | 25 mi | $56,877 | $838/mo | 70% |
| Douglas County, IL | 26 mi | $77,320 | $848/mo | 77% |
| Ford County, IL | 32 mi | $62,439 | $923/mo | 72% |
| De Witt County, IL | 37 mi | $71,678 | $903/mo | 79% |
| Edgar County, IL | 40 mi | $59,941 | $775/mo | 73% |
Champaign County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 46% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 5.2%, against 6.9% for Illinois.
| Champaign County | Illinois | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.7 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 46.2% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.9% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 12.8% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.5% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.1% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Champaign County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 41.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.3% |
| 60+ min | 2.3% |
Before borrowing in Champaign County
What the Champaign County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Assistance before credit. With a 19% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Champaign County loan.
- Tight rental budgets. With 54% of Champaign County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
A Champaign County household budget, worked through
Champaign County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,307 before taxes
- 20% goes to median rent ($1,051)
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,231 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Lender oversight for Champaign County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Champaign County, check the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Illinois: Illinois personal loans.
Four steps for Champaign County borrowers
Steps that save money for Champaign County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Champaign County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Champaign County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
The Illinois guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Champaign County a high-income county?
Its $63,683 median ranks 65th of 102 Illinois counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Champaign County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,051 against $1,274 statewide, and 54% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Champaign County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 27 Census places: Champaign, Urbana, Rantoul, Mahomet, Savoy.
Will a Champaign County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Illinois as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Champaign County check a lender's license?
With the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.