RANK #81 / 996 · POP 206,525 · IL
PROJECTED GROWTH: +3.1%
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.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| 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 has a Boom Town Index score of 92/100, ranking #81 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -0.9% and a median household income of $61,090, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Champaign County is $192,600 with median rent at $977/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3172, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.0% year-over-year. Job growth: -0.9%. Home values changed +6.7% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 6.18% of Champaign County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.