Champaign city, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Champaign city is a mid-sized community located in Illinois, within Champaign County. The total population is 88,822. It ranks as the 10th most populous out of 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Champaign city is 27.1 years. This is 30% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Champaign city is $57,544. This is 30% lower than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 27% lower. The poverty rate stands at 23.9%. This is 104% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 4.3%. This is 25% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $199,700. Housing costs are 20% lower than the state median of $250,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 44.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 33% lower than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Champaign city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 56.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 17.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (7.5%) is well below the state average of 18.5%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (14.8% vs 5.8%).

Education

53.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Champaign city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 44% higher than the state rate of 37.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.6%. Notably, 30.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Champaign city, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Illinois state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois. For official data, visit data.census.gov.