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Champaign County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Champaign County, Illinois has a population of 208,741, the 10th most populous county in Illinois. The median household income is $63,683 and the median home value is $211,500. The poverty rate is 19.1%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Champaign County Quick Facts

Population 208,741
Median Household Income $63,683
Median Home Value $211,500
Poverty Rate 19.1%
Unemployment Rate 4.3%
Median Age 30.7 years
Homeownership Rate 54.0%
Affordability Ratio 3.3x
Bachelor's Degree+ 46.2%
High School Graduation 95.1%
Cities/Places 28
Population 208,741 10th of 102
Median Income $63,683 24% lower than state
Poverty Rate 19.1%
Unemployment 4.3%

How Champaign County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population206,098208,741+1.3%
Median household income$63,091$63,683+0.9%
Median home value$205,100$211,500+3.1%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 22.3%
$25K-$50K 18.4%
$50K-$100K 27.5%
$100K+ 31.8%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
11.8%
$10K-$15K
4.1%
$15K-$20K
3.3%
$20K-$25K
3.1%
$25K-$30K
4.7%
$30K-$35K
3.7%
$35K-$40K
3.6%
$40K-$45K
3.2%
$45K-$50K
3.3%
$50K-$60K
6.6%
$60K-$75K
9.3%
$75K-$100K
11.5%
$100K-$125K
8.4%
$125K-$150K
6.4%
$150K-$200K
7.5%
$200K+
9.4%

Employment

4.3% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%
60.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 54.0%
Renter 46.0%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.3x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,051/mo 19.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

57out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 61 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Champaign County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Champaign89,996$56,11825.9%$210,900
Urbana39,341$45,34628.0%$184,900
Rantoul12,421$48,69116.9%$118,200
Mahomet10,049$118,5863.8%$299,100
Savoy8,968$91,9667.9%$320,300
St. Joseph3,778$120,7894.1%$270,900
Tolono3,566$69,6534.6%$208,600
Lake of the Woods2,091$61,6254.7%$193,500
Fisher1,605$97,7022.1%$190,100
Philo1,487$105,62510.3%$205,400
Homer1,245$85,87511.0%$146,200
Sidney936$88,6184.3%$197,600
Thomasboro918$64,03813.2%$111,800
Gifford822$76,9647.1%$171,200
Ogden754$78,1259.9%$157,400
Pesotum557$79,7926.4%$163,000
Bondville404$71,25013.6%$168,200
Ludlow372$45,00024.7%$72,500
Sadorus296$78,7509.1%$132,500
Royal292$86,2502.7%$161,200
Broadlands274$64,06313.1%$125,000
Seymour270$36,06317.4%$135,700
Ivesdale209$64,3757.8%$118,100
Allerton205$53,39317.6%$106,300
Penfield190$97,00012.4%$96,200
Dewey89N/A0.0%N/A
Longview78$74,3755.1%$63,300
Foosland37$81,25010.8%N/A

Population Overview

Champaign County is located in Illinois with a total population of 208,741. It is the 10th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 28 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Champaign County is 30.7 years. This is 21% lower than the state median of 39.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Champaign County is $63,683. This is 24% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 21% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.1%. This is 61% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 4.3%. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $211,500. Housing costs are 20% lower than the state median of $263,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 54.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% lower than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Champaign County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 62.4% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 13.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (8.3%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (11.4% vs 5.9%).

Education

46.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Champaign County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 22% higher than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.1%. Notably, 25.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Champaign County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Illinois and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Champaign County, Illinois?

Champaign County has a population of 208,741, making it the 10th most populous county in Illinois.

What is the median income in Champaign County?

The median household income in Champaign County is $63,683 with a poverty rate of 19.1%.

How many cities are in Champaign County, Illinois?

Champaign County contains 28 Census-designated places.