Champaign Illinois Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Champaign, IL (the Champaign-Urbana metro area) was $909 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Champaign was $972 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Champaign median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Champaign rental vacancy rates, Champaign rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Champaign.
Real Gross Rent in Champaign Illinois (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Illinois Median Gross Rent | $1,020 | +0.69% | +2.51% |
| Champaign, IL Median Gross Rent | $909 | +10.32% | +5.94% |
Champaign, IL Real Gross Rent Trends
At $909, real median gross rent in Champaign was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Champaign peaked in real terms in 2015 at $978 and is now $6 (0.61%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Champaign: Champaign IL Median, Champaign IL Average, Illinois Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Champaign
| Date | US Median |
Illinois Median |
Champaign, IL Median |
Champaign, IL Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,020 | $909 | $972 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,013 | $824 | $913 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,004 | $837 | $924 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $995 | $858 | $916 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $993 | $906 | $978 |
| 2014 | $986 | $955 | $828 | $885 |
| 2013 | $953 | $932 | $817 | $884 |
| 2012 | $940 | $923 | $796 | $862 |
| 2011 | $941 | $928 | $835 | $905 |
| 2010 | $955 | $948 | $829 | $901 |
| 2009 | $960 | $944 | $876 | $921 |
| 2007 | $927 | $920 | $778 | $847 |
| 2005 | $910 | $918 | $824 | $914 |
Champaign Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Champaign Illinois was 11.54% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Champaign Illinois
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Illinois | 5.65% | -0.67% | -0.36% |
| Champaign, IL | 11.54% | +1.49% | +3.17% |
Trends in Champaign, IL Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Champaign peaked in 2017 at 12.83%. Since then it has fallen by 1.29% to 11.54%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Champaign IL, Illinois, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Champaign
| Date | US | Illinois | Champaign, IL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 5.65% | 11.54% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 6.32% | 10.05% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 7.02% | 12.83% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 6.01% | 8.37% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 6.21% | 12.08% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.53% | 6.94% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 6.16% | 8.40% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.39% | 6.89% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 7.35% | 5.62% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 7.66% | 7.18% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 7.84% | 6.81% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.69% | 7.69% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 9.45% | 6.40% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Champaign, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Champaign, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 20.55% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Champaign Illinois Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Illinois | 17.69% | -0.67% | -1.01% |
| Champaign, IL | 20.55% | +2.20% | +1.11% |
Trends in Champaign, IL Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Champaign household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2009 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.08%. Since then it has fallen by 1.53% to 20.55%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Champaign IL, Illinois, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Champaign Illinois
| Date | US | Illinois | Champaign, IL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.69% | 20.55% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.36% | 18.35% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.55% | 19.11% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.70% | 19.44% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.85% | 19.86% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 18.91% | 19.57% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 18.89% | 19.70% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.89% | 18.84% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.36% | 21.91% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.21% | 19.42% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.41% | 22.08% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.36% | 17.68% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.52% | 19.97% |
Renter Fraction in Champaign Illinois
You can calculate the renter fraction in Champaign in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Champaign as a fraction of total Champaign households. In 2019 45.71% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Champaign Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Illinois | 33.99% | -0.02% | -0.75% |
| Champaign, IL | 45.71% | +2.77% | +2.66% |
Trends in the Champaign, IL Renter Fraction
At 45.71%, the 2019 household based renter fraction in Champaign was at its highest level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Champaign IL, Illinois, US
History of Champaign Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Illinois | Champaign, IL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 33.99% | 45.71% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 34.01% | 42.94% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 33.82% | 43.68% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 34.74% | 43.05% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 34.72% | 42.36% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 34.51% | 41.58% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 34.06% | 40.45% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 33.40% | 41.42% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 32.65% | 42.91% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 32.27% | 42.07% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 32.00% | 43.12% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.94% | 41.02% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 30.13% | 41.42% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
