Champaign
Investment Analysis

Champaign, IL
Housing Market Screening

City-level home-price and one-bedroom-rent references with transparent methodology and limitations.

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City-level screening

23.1x

Home price / annualized 1BR rent

Gross annual 1BR-rent reference
4.3%
Recorded YoY field
+5.5%

Not cap rate, ROI, valuation or buy-versus-rent advice. City fields may reflect different source years.

Median Home Price
$244,950
Average Rent (1BR)
$885/mo
Median Income
$46,232
Population
89,191

Housing Screening Context

Champaign has a computed screening multiple of 23.1x and a gross annual 1BR-rent reference of 4.3%.

These values compare separate city-level fields, not one matched property. They exclude financing, taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, transaction costs and tenure horizon.

Recorded year-over-year price change: +5.5%. Source period and forecast assumptions should be reviewed before scenario use.

Read the transparent methodology or open the Housing Research Hub.

Rental Cash Flow Analysis

Monthly Income

Gross Rent $885
Annual Gross $10,620

Est. Monthly Expenses

Property Tax (~1.5%) -$306
Insurance (~0.5%) -$102
Maintenance (~1%) -$204
Est. Net Cash Flow $273/mo

Price Forecast 2026โ€“2028

๐Ÿ”ฎ Champaign Price Forecast 2026โ€“2028

Based on 5-year Zillow ZHVI trend analysis ยท Statistical projection
๐Ÿ“ˆ Upward Trend
PROJECTEDNOW$237K2027$250Kโ–ฒ 5.5%2028$262Kโ–ฒ 10.6%20232024Now
$275K$192K
Current
$245K
2026
Projected
$250K
โ†‘ 5.5% by 2027
Projected
$262K
โ†‘ 10.6% by 2028
5yr CAGR:+6.3%
Confidence:High
Rยฒ:0.99
โ–ผ

Our Champaign housing market forecast for 2026-2028 suggests a period of moderated but stable appreciation, driven by the persistent strength of the University of Illinois and its related healthcare and tech sectors. With a current median home price of $225,446 and a robust 5-year price change of 40.5%, the market has demonstrated significant resilience. The key question for potential buyers is will Champaign home prices drop? Given the low inventory, reflected in a swift 27 days on market, and a healthy Risk Grade of A, a significant price correction appears unlikely. Instead, price growth is expected to normalize, aligning more closely with the area's 5-year CAGR of 6.9% rather than the recent spike.

Affordability remains a central theme, though the price-to-rent ratio of 19.4x suggests buying is not an obvious bargain compared to the national average. This dynamic, coupled with a neutral buy/rent verdict, indicates that the market will likely see balanced activity from both owner-occupants and investors. The Champaign real estate landscape in 2027 will continue to be shaped by the university's economic influence, which provides a stable demand floor. While the market temperature of 67/100 points to healthy activity, the outlook for Champaign in 2027 is one of steady, incremental gains rather than explosive growth, as the area works to maintain its appeal amidst broader affordability challenges.

Projected Cap Rate (2027)
2.6%
5yr CAGR
+6.3%

Job Market

Unemployment 4.5%
National avg: 3.7%
Job Growth (YoY) +0.5%

Healthcare

77
Score
Good

Risk Factors

Low Risk Profile

Market Activity

Source: Redfin ยท 2026-05-31
Sale-to-List 99.9%
Months Supply 2.9
Price Drops 16%
Gone in 2 Wks 59%

Market Position

Affordability Below Avg
Safety Average

ROI Projector Model an editable scenario

Adjust the sliders to model different investment scenarios for Champaign.

Total ROI
36%
on $48,990 invested
Annual ROI
6.3%
compounded
Total Return
$17,575
appreciation + cashflow
Mo. Cash Flow
-$1,049
year 1 estimate
Equity Growth Over 5 Years
Y165kY281kY398kY4117kY5136k
Appreciation
$75,797
Cash Flow
-$58,222
Final Equity
$136,271

* Estimates based on 5.5% annual appreciation, 3% rent growth, 5% vacancy. Does not include closing costs, tax benefits, or capital gains tax. For illustrative purposes only.

Rental Scenario Calculator Estimate your monthly cashflow

Rental Cash-Flow Scenario

Pre-filled for Champaign

Property

Purchase Price$244,950
Monthly Rent$885
Down Payment20%

Financing

Interest Rate6.5%

Expenses

Property Tax1.2%
Insurance (Annual)$1,500
Maintenance Reserve1%
Vacancy Rate5%
Property Management0%
HOA (Monthly)$0
-$972
Modeled Monthly Cash Flow
-$11,663/ year
-23.8%
Cash-on-Cash
1.3%
Cap Rate

Monthly Breakdown

+ Rental Income$885
โˆ’ Mortgage (P&I)$1,239
โˆ’ Property Tax$245
โˆ’ Insurance$125
โˆ’ Maintenance$204
โˆ’ Vacancy Loss$44
= Net Cash Flow-$972

Scenario Summary

Down Payment
$48,990
Loan Amount
$195,960
Total Monthly Expenses
$1,857
Gross Yield
4.3%

Investor Toolkit

Research Champaign before you invest

Disclaimer: This analysis is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Investment decisions should be made after consulting with qualified professionals. Data sources include Zillow, Census Bureau, and BLS. Cap rates and yields are estimates based on available data.

Last updated: July 2026