Champaign County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Champaign County is located in Illinois with a total population of 206,098. It is the 10th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Champaign County is 30.9 years. This is 21% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Champaign County is $63,091. This is 23% lower than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 20% lower. The poverty rate stands at 18.0%. This is 54% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 22% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $205,100. Housing costs are 18% lower than the state median of $250,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 53.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% lower than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Champaign County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 63.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 13.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (8.1%) is well below the state average of 18.5%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (10.7% vs 5.8%).

Education

46.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Champaign County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 25% 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 95.1%. Notably, 25.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.