Champaign is the western half of the East Central Illinois twin cities of Champaign-Urbana. Founded in 1855, it was initially known as West Urbana, but the name Champaign was solidified five years later. The twin cities are home to the University of Illinois campus, “It’s a world-class school with a large international student base,” says Russ Taylor, Realtor with the Russ Taylor Team at Taylor Realty Associates. “The university is the largest employer in the area with about 1 in 7 people in Champaign County working for the university.” The population of Champaign is just over 88,000. When university students are around, the population of the twin cities, plus the student body, exceeds 150,000.
The Main Quad at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is an easy walk from Campustown.
Hill Street East residents can attend nearby University of Illinois football games.
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The university and other major Champaign employers
Buildings on the University of Illinois campus are split between Champaign and Urbana. Wright Street, a north-south road at the heart of campus, divides the two cities. According to the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, the university employs over 14,000, while hospital systems Carle and Christie Clinic are among the area's top 5 employers. Kraft-Heinz is located well west of the university campus and employs nearly 1,000. The plant produces the pasta that’s part of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, A-1 steak sauce and various salad dressings. Research Park at the University of Illinois is on the campus’ south side with a collection of startups and established businesses. About 100 companies employ over 2,000 people in high-tech careers. Some established companies within the park are State Farm, Yahoo, Abbott Laboratories and Capital One. There are also over 50 high-tech startup businesses.
Home prices in Champaign are below the national average
The median price for a single-family house in Champaign is $243,000, significantly below the national average. Most of the newer housing is south of Kirby Avenue and north of Interstate 74, with the most recent development in the city's southwest and far north parts. Some neighborhoods with newer housing include Cherry Hills and Pembroke Point. Townhouse prices range from $90,000 to $325,000, while condos and multi-family units range from $110,000 to $450,000. “People like the affordability of the housing here, and it’s becoming a more popular place to retire because of that,” Taylor says.
According to the Champaign Police Department, violent crimes have decreased since 2021. Still, according to numbers compiled by the FBI, the rate of violent crime is above the national average for much of 2023
Single family homes are available for rent in Campustown.
There are many beautiful homes in the quiet Boulder Ridge area.
Dutch Colonials are popular in Downtown Champaign.
There are a variety of building materials used in West Urbana homes including stucco.
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Revitalization of downtown Champaign
With craft breweries, restaurants, and independent boutique shops, downtown Champaign has revitalized steadily over the past few decades—the Market Street Entertainment District on Friday and Saturday nights during the summer has been transformed into a concert venue. One of the most popular attractions downtown is Virginia Theatre, which opened in 1921 and hosts classic film showings, concerts and comedy shows. Every April, the theater hosts Ebertfest, a film festival named after famous movie critic Roger Ebert, who was born in Urbana and graduated from the University of Illinois. Other retail opportunities include big-box stores on North Prospect Avenue, just west of Market Place Shopping Center, with over 100 stores. Green Street, close to the university, is another prime retail and restaurant section of Champaign's Campustown section. “The great thing about Champaign is you can be anywhere in the city in no more than 10 or 15 minutes,” says Bill Craig, managing broker at Re/Max Realty Associates.
Big Grove Tavern has a wonderful outdoor patio in Downtown Champaign.
Hang with friends and listen to Live Jazz at Seven Saints in Downtown Champaign.
Enjoy a drink with friends at Farren's Pub & Eatery in Downtown Champaign.
Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano serves delicious Italian fare plus great cocktails.
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Mass Transit District buses are everywhere
Living in Champaign means getting to a Mass Transit District (MTD) bus stop is never a far venture. Buses don’t just stick to the main roads – some MTD routes go into neighborhoods, such as Garden Hills and Boulder Ridge. Illinois Terminal is in downtown Champaign and features access to Amtrak on the second level and Greyhound and MTD buses on the lower level. Champaign is close to Interstates 74, 57 and 72. It’s about 2 hours east to Indianapolis via Interstate 74, while Chicago is about 2 hours north by Interstate 57. Interstate 72 leads west to the state capital of Springfield, about 90 miles away. Willard Airport is located south of the city on Route 45. The facility, which the University of Illinois owns, has commercial flights courtesy of American Eagle with service to Chicago and Dallas.
Recreation in the parks or attending an Illini athletic event
The Champaign Park District manages 60 parks spanning more than 700 acres. Summer weekends are busy at Dodds Park, with multiple baseball and softball diamonds and 11 soccer fields. The 104-acre park has a community garden and an 18-hole disc golf course. On Saturdays during the fall, many people are dressed in orange and blue, tailgating by Memorial Stadium before an Illinois Fighting Illini football game. The State Farm Center is home to Illinois men’s and women’s basketball games in winter. The venue also hosts plays and concerts. Krannert Center for the Performing Arts features a great hall that hosts symphony orchestra and opera performances.
Champaign Unit 4 Schools
The Champaign Unit 4 School District is rated a B-plus overall and operates 12 elementary schools, five middle schools and two high schools. Families who send their children to public schools can choose their preferred schools within the district, and the final decision is based on capacity, where the family lives and socioeconomic status. The area also has a couple of private schools. The High School of Saint Thomas More earns an A rating, while Academy High gets an A-plus. Judah Christian School serves K-12 students and receives a B-plus. About 9,000 students are enrolled at Parkland College, a two-year community college on the west side of Champaign.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
