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City · 39,341 residents · Champaign County, Illinois

Urbana , Illinois

In Urbana, a typical home is worth $184,900 and typical rent is $972 a month. Compared with all of Champaign County, typical household income is 29% lower, the typical home value is 13% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 17 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $184,900

    13% below the county

    30% below Illinois

    • Urbana
    • Champaign
    • Illinois

  • Typical rent

    $972a month

    8% below the county

    24% below Illinois

    • Urbana
    • Champaign
    • Illinois

  • Typical household income

    $45,346a year

    29% below the county

    46% below Illinois

    • Urbana
    • Champaign
    • Illinois

  • Households that own their home

    37%

    17 points below the county

    30 points below Illinois

    • Urbana
    • Champaign
    • Illinois

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$204,825
5.1% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,348 a month
5.6% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Urbana is in Champaign County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Champaign County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Urbana apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Urbana has the 3rd lowest homeownership rate of the 337 cities in Illinois with more than 5,000 people (37%).

  2. Urbana has the 9th lowest typical household income of the 337 cities in Illinois with more than 5,000 people ($45,346).

  3. Nearby, in Rantoul, the typical home value is $118,200: 36% less than in Urbana ($184,900).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Urbana

What homes there are in Urbana, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

There are more apartments in Urbana than in Champaign County: 49% of homes, against 33%.

Year built

In Urbana, half of the homes were built before 1980; in Champaign County, before 1981.

Homes in Urbana are smaller: 42% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Champaign County, 57%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

At least 97% of owner-occupied homes in Urbana are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Champaign County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Champaign County is $1,173: about 66% of rents in Urbana are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,591 a month

Champaign County: $1,647 a month

Without a mortgage

$707 a month

Champaign County: $737 a month

Owners with a mortgage

54%

Champaign County: 60%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Urbana is $1,591 a month, near the figure in Champaign County ($1,647).

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Urbana rose 19%; in Champaign County, it rose 31%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Urbana rose 16%, less than in Champaign County (19%).

The typical household income in Urbana rose 22% over that time; home values changed +19% and rent +16%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureUrbanaChampaign CountyIllinoisUnited States
Rental vacancy 9.9%9.0%5.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.4%1.0%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.0%2.5%3.4%
People per household 1.982.272.462.53
Drive alone 48%64%66%69%
Carpool 8%8%8%9%
Public transit 7%3%6%3%
Walk or bike 17%8%3%3%
Work from home 19%16%16%15%
Other means 1%1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

In Urbana, the rental vacancy rate is 9.9%, about the same as in Champaign County.

Households in Urbana are smaller: 1.98 people on average; in Champaign County, 2.27.

In Urbana, 17% of workers walk or bike to work; in Champaign County, 8%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Urbana?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Urbana, worth $184,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 47% of the typical household income in Urbana, which is $45,346 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $75,563 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Champaign County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Urbana. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $6,472 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,763

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$181,550
Total interest
$261,209
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,122 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,058 a month

  • Tight

    $1,058 to $1,360 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,360 a month

    Your payment · 47%

Compared with the typical household income in Urbana ($45,346 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,763
Principal & interest$1,230
Property tax$374
Home insurance$77
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$82

You need at least $6,472 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Urbana and Champaign County

Urbana is in Champaign County, Illinois. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Urbana's own numbers

Typical home value
$184,900
Typical monthly rent
$972
Typical yearly household income
$45,346
Households that own their home
37%
Effective property tax rate
2.43%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Champaign County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,173
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+52%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.8%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Champaign County.

Everything about Champaign County

Buying

Buying a home in Urbana

A typical home in Urbana is worth $184,900: 13% below the county and 30% below Illinois. With the typical household income in Urbana ($45,346 a year), a typical home costs 4.1 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Urbana 4.1 years
  • Champaign 3.3 years
  • Illinois 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Champaign County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Champaign County rose 64% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Champaign County.

Period County Illinois U.S.
Last year (2025) +7.2% +5.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +52% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +64% +65% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Urbana next to Champaign County, Illinois and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Urbana $184,900
  • Champaign $211,500
  • Illinois $263,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Urbana $972
  • Champaign $1,051
  • Illinois $1,274
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Urbana $45,346
  • Champaign $63,683
  • Illinois $83,390
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Urbana next to Champaign County and Illinois
Measure Urbana Champaign County Illinois U.S.
Typical home value $184,900 $211,500 $263,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $972 $1,051 $1,274 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $45,346 $63,683 $83,390 $80,734
Households that own their home 37% 54% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $4,491 $4,353 $5,298 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 2.43% 2.06% 2.01% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 58% 54% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Champaign County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Urbana

For a typical $184,900 home in Urbana, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Urbana's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,763a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,472
    Cash to close
    $12,019
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $82

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,729a month

    Down payment
    $9,245
    Cash to close
    $14,792
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $88

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,454a month

    Down payment
    $36,980
    Cash to close
    $42,527
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,624a month

    Down payment
    $27,735
    Cash to close
    $33,282
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Urbana and for Champaign County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Urbana

2.43%of the home’s value each year

$4,491 a year for the typical owner in Urbana.

  • Urbana 2.43%
  • Champaign 2.06%
  • Illinois 2.01%

What Illinois publishes General Homestead Exemption (Illinois Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Illinois

Flood risk in Champaign County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Champaign County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.8%
462
Of those, with NFIP insurance
17%
County Illinois U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.8% 1.5% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 17% 25% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Urbana

Typical rent in Urbana is $972 a month: 8% below the county. In Urbana, 58% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Champaign County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,173 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $22.56 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Champaign County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $983 $18.90 $39,320
1 bedroom $996 $19.15 $39,840
2 bedrooms $1,173 $22.56 $46,920
3 bedrooms $1,474 $28.35 $58,960
4 bedrooms $1,542 $29.65 $61,680

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Urbana

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Urbana has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,140 in all of them.

None is above the fair market rent for Champaign County ($1,173).

  • 61801 $1,140$1,430
  • 61802 $1,140$1,430

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Urbana when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Urbana

HUD lists 11 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Urbana. These are the largest.

  • Florida House 1502 E Florida Ave, Urbana 61802 120 low-income homes · 1 bd: 120 · In service since 2007 · For older adults (217) 328-3301
  • Sunnycrest Manor 1805 S Cottage Grove Ave, Urbana 61801 101 low-income homes · 1 bd: 100 · 2 bd: 1 · In service since 2007 · For older adults (217) 328-6170
  • Prairie Green Apts Phase I 2502 Prairie Green Dr, Urbana 61802 56 low-income homes · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 32 · 3 bd: 8 · In service since 1995 · For families
  • Edge of Mall Apts. 109 W Illinois St, Urbana 61801 50 low-income homes · For older adults (217) 328-6409
  • Aspen Courts/Aka/Scottswood Manor 1103 Lieman Dr., Urbana 61801 137 homes, 48 low-income · For families (217) 344-9110

See all 24 buildings in Champaign County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Urbana

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Champaign County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A grandmother smiles, seated at home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Urbana

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Urbana or Champaign County. The ones below are statewide in Illinois: they work in Urbana the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Illinois

  • IHDAccess Home

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan with deferred payments for first-time buyers in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • IHDAccess Forgivable

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan forgiven little by little over ten years, for the down payment in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • IHDAccess Deferred

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance, for the down payment in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Urbana

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Urbana, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County

    1914 Glenn Park Dr, Champaign · 4 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (217) 819-5113

  • Erba Douglas County Outreach Office

    107 W South Central, Tuscola · 22 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    217-331-7031-229

  • C.e.f.s. Moultrie County Outreach Office

    114 E. Harrison Street, Sullivan · 41 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 8 more
    (217) 728-7721

Every agency in Champaign County All counseling agencies in Illinois

Help in Spanish near Urbana

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Urbana

HUD’s record names them for Urbana or Champaign County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of Champaign County Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (217) 378-7100

All housing agencies in Illinois Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Champaign County

These cities are also in Champaign County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Champaign County Housing in Illinois

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Urbana, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Champaign County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Urbana.

All guides
A father, a mother and their daughter smile among the avocado trees by their home in Somis, California.

Questions

Housing questions about Urbana

Short answers with the numbers for Urbana and all of Champaign County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Urbana?

The typical home value in Urbana is $184,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Champaign County it is $211,500.

How much does it cost to rent in Urbana?

Typical rent in Urbana is $972 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Champaign County is $1,173.

What is the FHA loan limit in Urbana?

Urbana uses the FHA limit for all of Champaign County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Urbana?

The typical homeowner in Urbana pays $4,491 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.43% of the home’s value; in Champaign County, the rate is 2.06%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Urbana?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Champaign County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).