Champaign-Urbana IL › Market Report
Champaign-Urbana IL Housing Market Report 2026
TL;DR
Reviewed source data uses Redfin Data Center exact-city rows for May 2026 supplemental context: Champaign city median sale price $231,331 and Urbana $229,881. Zillow Research city ZHVI through May 2026 supplemental context reports Champaign about $235,121 and Urbana about $204,276. County and MSA values are labeled context only. Transfer tax remains source-conflict labeled: county page says 1.5%, while statutes support $0.75/$500 state+county before property-specific checks.
Housing prices and selling conditions
These measures describe housing prices and selling conditions for the areas and periods shown. Compare them alongside repair costs, your mortgage payoff and selling costs.
| Measure | Value | Source and area | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $238,886 | Redfin · Champaign, IL | Three months ending September 2026 |
| Median days on market | 48 days | Redfin · Champaign, IL | Three months ending September 2026 |
| Homes sold | 257 homes | Redfin · Champaign, IL | Three months ending September 2026 |
| Typical home value (Zillow ZHVI) | $236,141 | Zillow · Champaign, IL | As of September 2026 |
| For-sale inventory | 243 homes | Zillow · Champaign, IL | As of September 2026 |
Include utilities, other bills and any mortgage payments while waiting to sell. Allow time for closing, too.
Source-period notice
The refresh panel contains the current source rows, with provider, geography, and period shown for each measure. Other figures below retain their displayed dates as supplemental context.
Champaign-Urbana Key Market Metrics (reviewed 2026 public sources)
The 2026-05-24 public sources keep Champaign city, Urbana city, Champaign County, and Champaign MSA grains separate. Use Redfin Data Center exact city rows for transaction facts, Zillow Research city rows for ZHVI/inventory context, Champaign County only as labeled county context, and Champaign MSA only as labeled metro context.
| Metric | Champaign City | Urbana City | Metro / County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zillow city ZHVI (Research CSV, May 2026 supplemental context) | $235,121 (+5.71%) | $204,276 (+7.50%) | $234,211 (+6.68% metro context) |
| Redfin median sale price | $231,331 (-0.29%) | $229,881 (+8.23%) | $263,514 (+17.12% county context) |
| Redfin DOM / sale-to-list | 55 days / 98.53% | 59 days / 98.23% | 45 days / 98.52% county context |
| Redfin homes sold | 189 (+1.81%) | 95 (+20.49%) | 180 (+14.18% county context) |
| Unavailable fields | No city months-of-supply field | No city months-of-supply field | No matching metro row is used as a city substitute |
Urbana's older reviewed Redfin city row is from a rolling three-month source period labeled May 2026 and is retained as supplemental context; Zillow Research ZHVI is a separate monthly city value metric. Keep Redfin transaction facts, Zillow value metrics, county context, and metro context separate.
Note: ZHVI is a smoothed estimate of typical home values — it is not a median sale price. Redfin reports transaction medians. The accepted June 2026 Redfin rolling-period city rows remain dated supplemental transaction context.
Champaign vs. Urbana — Why the Prices Differ
Champaign city trades at a premium to Urbana city for structural reasons that have nothing to do with short-term market conditions. Champaign's housing stock is newer on average — according to NeighborhoodScout, approximately 11.29% of Champaign's housing stock pre-dates 1939, compared to a higher proportion in Urbana's University District and Downtown. Champaign also hosts the Research Park's southwest corridor and Savoy-adjacent newer construction, which pulls the city-level average upward.
Urbana's lower price point reflects its older housing stock (University District pre-war homes, Crystal Lake Park 1950s ranches, South Urbana working-class neighborhoods) and the concentrated effect of UIUC grad-student rental demand, which keeps rental yields high but sale values lower relative to comparable Champaign properties. The county seat — and all legal infrastructure — is in Urbana at 101 E. Main Street.
| Factor | Champaign | Urbana |
|---|---|---|
| ZHVI (Zillow Research CSV, May 2026 supplemental context) | $235,121 | $204,276 |
| Population | 89,996 (2024 ACS) | ~39,831 (2024 ACS) |
| Pre-1939 Housing % | ~11.29% | Higher (University District) |
| County Seat / Courts | No | Yes — 101 E. Main St. |
| Primary Character | Growing college town, Research Park tech | Historic county seat, UIUC-adjacent |
| Dominant Neighborhoods | Campustown, Stone Creek, Southwest | University District, Old West Urbana, Downtown |
Transfer Tax — Champaign County & Illinois State
The reviewed public sources record a source conflict: the Champaign County Recorder page states 1.5%, while 35 ILCS 200/31-10 and 55 ILCS 5/5-1031 support $0.50/$500 state plus $0.25/$500 county — $0.75/$500, or 0.15% combined state+county before transaction-specific exemptions, splits, title items, or municipal ordinance checks. Confirm property-specific costs with title or counsel.
⚠️ Transfer-tax source conflict
The Champaign County Recorder page states: "Real Estate Transfer tax assessed in the amount of 1.5% of the value of the property." The public sources do not treat this as an uncontested fact; they record the conflict against Illinois statute sources.
Illinois statutes support $0.50/$500 state plus $0.25/$500 county where imposed. That equals $0.75/$500, or 0.15% state+county before property-specific exceptions, splits, exemptions, title items, or municipal ordinance checks.
Use the statutory baseline as property-specific context, not legal advice. Confirm transaction-specific costs with title or counsel.
Source: reviewed 2026-05-24 public sources; Champaign County Recorder page; 35 ILCS 200/31-10; 55 ILCS 5/5-1031
| Sale Price | IL State ($0.50/$500) | Champaign Co. ($0.25/$500) | Municipal | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $204,276 (Urbana ZHVI) | $204.50 | $102.25 | Verify | $306.75 statutory baseline |
| $235,121 (Champaign ZHVI) | $235.50 | $117.75 | Verify | $353.25 statutory baseline |
| $200,000 (round example) | $200.00 | $100.00 | Verify | $300.00 statutory baseline |
| $263,514 (county Redfin context) | $264.00 | $132.00 | Verify | $396.00 statutory baseline |
| $231,331 (Champaign city Redfin median) | $231.50 | $115.75 | Verify | $347.25 statutory baseline |
When you sell to USA Home Buyers, we cover standard seller closing costs in the written offer. Property-specific transfer taxes, recording fees, title/settlement fees, liens, payoffs, and exemptions must be confirmed by title or counsel.
Champaign-Urbana vs. Other Illinois Markets
| Factor | Champaign-Urbana | Springfield | Rockford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro ZHVI | $234,211 context only | See Springfield page | See Rockford page |
| County Median Sale | $263,514 county context | See Springfield page | See Rockford page |
| Source posture | Reviewed Redfin/Zillow public sources | Separate public sources needed | Separate public sources needed |
| Economy Driver | UIUC context not fully revalidated in public sources | State government | Manufacturing/diversified |
| Legal/tax claims | property-specific confirmation required | Verify separately | Verify separately |
| Municipal Transfer Tax | Not definitive from public sources; verify current ordinance/title | Verify separately | Verify separately |
The UIUC Market Dynamic — What Sets C-U Apart
The reviewed public sources did not fully revalidate UIUC enrollment, employer counts, Research Park figures, faculty-relocation claims, iBuyer claims, or academic-calendar timing. Keep those as local context unless separately sourced.
For refreshed numeric claims, rely on reviewed Redfin Data Center and Zillow Research rows. For seller-specific questions, condition, liens, title, probate authority, foreclosure status, and closing timeline drive the offer more than broad institutional context.
Separate 2025 association figures were not part of the reviewed 2026 refresh public sources and should not override the source-noted Redfin/Zillow labels.
Cash Offer Range — Champaign-Urbana IL
| Scenario | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard cash offer | Property-specific written offer | Depends on condition, repairs, title, liens, seller authority, and timeline |
| Distressed / major repairs | Property-specific written offer | Repair, cleanout, tenant, title, or legal status must be reviewed |
| Clean, well-maintained | Property-specific written offer | Compare certainty and timeline against retail net after costs |
Actual offer depends on property condition, neighborhood, repairs, title, liens, seller authority, and timeline. We cover standard seller closing costs in the written offer; property-specific title/tax/legal items need title or counsel verification.
Data Sources
- • Zillow Research city ZHVI, inventory, and new listings — newest column May 2026 supplemental context
- • Zillow Research city median sale price — newest column May 2026 supplemental context; Older Zillow sale-price context is not used as a June ZHVI substitute
- • Redfin Data Center exact city rows — rolling three-month source period labeled May 2026; older supplemental context, last updated 2026-05-03
- • Redfin Data Center county monthly row — county context only
- • FRED/BLS MSA labor context — property-specific confirmation required
- • Champaign County Clerk / Recorder (1776 E. Washington, Urbana)
- • 35 ILCS 200/31-10; 55 ILCS 5/5-1031 (transfer tax statutes)
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Prices, timing and your selling options
Home prices in Champaign Urbana
Homes in Champaign, IL sold for a median of $238,886 for the three months ending September 2026 (Redfin). Repairs and condition affect what someone will pay for your house. Homes in Champaign, IL spent a median of 48 days on the market for the three months ending September 2026 (Redfin). You still have bills while waiting to sell, including utilities and any mortgage payments. Allow time for closing, too.