Champaign City
RANK #191 / 996 NAT · #16 / 28 IL · POP 206,525
1YR FORECAST: +4.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +32%
Home to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign County, Illinois, offers a blend of academic influence and Midwestern character. The county seat, Urbana, along with the larger city of Champaign, form a central hub surrounded by rich farmland. Commutes within the county are generally short, with an average travel time of under 17 minutes. The area provides extensive outdoor recreation, including over 4,000 acres of green space across seven forest preserves, featuring lakes for paddling and fishing, and miles of trails for hiking and biking, such as the Kickapoo Rail Trail.
Life in Champaign County is shaped by its diverse population, including a significant international community drawn by the university. The public school systems in towns like Mahomet, St. Joseph, and within the Champaign and Urbana districts are notable. The local economy benefits from ongoing investment in sectors like biomanufacturing, technology, and agriculture, attracting both established businesses and new ventures. Transportation options include a comprehensive bus network, bike-sharing programs, and Amtrak service, connecting residents to regional and national destinations.
Below national median
Harsh climate or flat terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 3.3x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Urbana Technology Hub (Data Center)
Thor Equities, CyrusOne
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
Open Plains Wind Project
Apex Clean Energy
|
$300M | Proposed |
|
Little Prairie Hybrid Project (Solar + Battery Storage)
BayWa r.e. Americas
|
$298M | Undergoing Permitting |
|
Prairie Solar Project
BayWa r.e. Americas
|
$183M | Under Construction |
|
Rising Battery Storage Project
Unknown
|
$100M | Planned |
|
iFAB Tech Hub (Biomanufacturing)
Champaign County EDC (with EDA grant)
|
$51M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Champaign County ranks #191 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 81/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 0.9% year-over-year). Median household income here is $61,090.
Housing in Champaign County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $192,600 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.32, with rents averaging $977/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Champaign County are both close to flat — population -0.0% YoY and jobs -0.9%. Home values shifted +6.7% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
In significant numbers — 6.18% of Champaign County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.
Home values climbed +6.7% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Champaign County is now valued at $192,600. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.