Department of Numbers

Champaign County Illinois Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Champaign County IL was $912 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Champaign County was $975 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 County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

Data is also available below for Champaign County rental vacancy rates, Champaign County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Champaign County.

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Champaign County 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 County IL Median Gross Rent $912 +9.88% +4.59%

Champaign County IL Real Gross Rent Trends

Median gross rent for Champaign County peaked in real terms in 2015 at $919 and is now $7 (0.76%) lower. Average gross rent for Champaign County peaked in real terms in 2015 at $994 and is now $19 (1.91%) lower.

Real Gross Rent: Champaign County IL Median, Champaign County IL Average, Illinois Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Champaign County

Date US
Median
Illinois
Median
Champaign County IL
Median
Champaign County IL
Average
2019 $1,097 $1,020 $912 $975
2018 $1,077 $1,013 $830 $931
2017 $1,043 $1,004 $841 $941
2016 $1,027 $995 $872 $938
2015 $1,017 $993 $919 $994
2014 $986 $955 $847 $909
2013 $953 $932 $825 $901
2012 $940 $923 $812 $879
2011 $941 $928 $856 $923
2010 $955 $948 $836 $915
2009 $960 $944 $886 $949

more history ...

Champaign County 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 County Illinois was 11.58% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Champaign County Illinois

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Illinois 5.65% -0.67% -0.36%
Champaign County IL 11.58% +1.50% +2.68%

Trends in Champaign County IL Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Champaign County peaked in 2017 at 12.84%. Since then it has fallen by 1.26% to 11.58%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Champaign County IL, Illinois, US

Rental vacancy rate in Illinois

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Champaign County

Date US Illinois Champaign County IL
2019 5.97% 5.65% 11.58%
2018 6.15% 6.32% 10.08%
2017 6.18% 7.02% 12.84%
2016 5.89% 6.01% 8.90%
2015 5.85% 6.21% 12.76%
2014 6.32% 6.53% 7.20%
2013 6.49% 6.16% 8.50%
2012 6.77% 6.39% 6.71%
2011 7.40% 7.35% 5.75%
2010 8.17% 7.66% 6.82%
2009 8.43% 7.84% 7.14%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Champaign County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Champaign County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 20.88% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Champaign County 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 County IL 20.88% +2.33% +1.02%

Trends in Champaign County IL Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Champaign County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 24.04%. Since then it has fallen by 3.15% to 20.88%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Champaign County IL, Illinois, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Champaign County Illinois

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Champaign County Illinois

Date US Illinois Champaign County IL
2019 20.03% 17.69% 20.88%
2018 20.50% 18.36% 18.55%
2017 20.13% 18.55% 19.47%
2016 20.43% 18.70% 19.86%
2015 20.63% 18.85% 20.68%
2014 20.89% 18.91% 20.57%
2013 20.78% 18.89% 20.57%
2012 20.65% 18.89% 19.74%
2011 20.70% 19.36% 24.04%
2010 20.50% 19.21% 19.83%
2009 20.12% 18.41% 22.63%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Champaign County Illinois

You can calculate the renter fraction in Champaign County 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 County as a fraction of total Champaign County households. In 2019 48.11% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Champaign County 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 County IL 48.11% +2.26% +1.72%

Trends in the Champaign County IL Renter Fraction

At 48.11%, the 2019 household based renter fraction in Champaign County was at its highest level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Champaign County IL, Illinois, US

Fraction of renters in Champaign County

History of Champaign County Renter Fraction

Date US Illinois Champaign County IL
2019 35.89% 33.99% 48.11%
2018 36.05% 34.01% 45.85%
2017 36.13% 33.82% 46.96%
2016 36.88% 34.74% 46.39%
2015 36.97% 34.72% 46.08%
2014 36.90% 34.51% 44.27%
2013 36.50% 34.06% 43.23%
2012 36.09% 33.40% 45.01%
2011 35.42% 32.65% 46.68%
2010 34.65% 32.27% 46.15%
2009 34.13% 32.00% 46.06%

more history ...

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.