What are the schools like in Urbana, IL?

Urbana is served primarily by Urbana SD 116. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.1:1.

What is the median household income in Urbana?

The median household income in Urbana, IL is $41,115 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.7%.

What is the weather like in Urbana, IL?

Urbana has an average high temperature of 33.5°F in January and 85.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 20.8 inches.

Urbana, IL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Urbana, IL affordable or expensive?

Urbana's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Urbana is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $175,100 and the median rent is $910 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Urbana, IL?

Urbana has a violent crime rate of 544.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2491.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Urbana, IL a Good Place to Live?

Urbana is a small city of 38,741 in Illinois, with a median household income of $41,115 and a 5.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Urbana stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Urbana is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Urbana city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.8

Urbana's overall cost of living index is 90.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Urbana costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Urbana, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$175,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$910	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	32.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$41,115	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Urbana's violent crime rate is 544.4 per 100,000 residents — 43% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

544.4 /100k

Property Crime

2491.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Urbana is served primarily by Urbana SD 116. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Urbana, IL	National Avg
School District	Urbana SD 116	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	58.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Urbana sees average highs of 33.5°F in January and 85.2°F in July, with 40.2 inches of annual precipitation and 20.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Urbana, IL
Average High — January	33.5°F
Average High — July	85.2°F
Annual Precipitation	40.2"
Annual Snowfall	20.8"

Demographics

Metric	Urbana, IL	National Avg
Population	38,741	—
Median Age	25.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	14.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	60.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	16.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.0%	18.9%
Asian	14.7%	6.3%
Under 18	10.8%	22.2%
65 and over	11.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Champaign, IL 4 mi Savoy, IL 5 mi Philo, IL 8 mi St. Joseph, IL 9 mi Sidney, IL 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Urbana

Urbana, IL is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

61802 61801

Urbana vs Other Cities

Urbana, IL vs Champaign, IL Urbana, IL vs Savoy, IL Urbana, IL vs Philo, IL Urbana, IL vs St. Joseph, IL Urbana, IL vs Sidney, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Urbana, IL affordable or expensive?

Urbana's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Urbana roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $175,100 and median rent is $910/month.

What is the crime rate in Urbana, IL?

Urbana's violent crime rate is 544.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2491.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Urbana?

Public schools in Urbana are operated by Urbana SD 116. The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 58.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Urbana, IL a good place to live?

Urbana, IL has a population of 38,741, a median household income of $41,115, and an unemployment rate of 5.7%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Urbana?

Urbana averages 33.5°F in January and 85.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.2 inches with about 20.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Urbana?

Urbana, IL is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 61802, 61801.

What is the population of Urbana?

The population of Urbana, Illinois is 38,741 with a median age of 25.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Urbana?

Key numbers for living in Urbana: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $175,100, median household income $41,115, crime index 133 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Urbana side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.