Real Estate Investing in Urbana, Illinois (61802)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Champaign County • Population: 19,502 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 61802 (Urbana, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (75/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.4% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Urbana, IL (61802)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $226,109
Avg Monthly Rent $1,312
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,251
% Renters 46.6%

Market Analysis: 61802 Urbana

ZIP 61802 inside Champaign County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $226K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 61802 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Regionally, 61802 sits on the difficult end of the IL spectrum. The an appealing option for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

A significant renter share of 47% in 61802 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Strategically, 61802 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Urbana:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,312/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Champaign-Urbana, IL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
45 days
Average time to sell
Average
11.2%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Champaign-Urbana, IL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 61802

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$71,060/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $168,965 $1,090 4.6% +8.1% $84,482
3BR $213,179 $1,400 4.7% +8.5% $71,060
4BR $284,836 $1,440 3.6% +7.8% $71,209
5BR $431,163 +7.6% $86,233

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$233K$212K$191K$169K$148K$127KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,595$1,514$1,434$1,354$1,274$1,194Feb 2025Nov 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 61802 Compare?

Metric 61802 Urbana Champaign-Urbana, IL Illinois
Home Value $226,109 $210,590 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR 7.2% 6.9% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,312 $1,269 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.5% 4.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 61802? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 47% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 61802 (Urbana, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 61802 (Urbana, IL)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Property managers serving Champaign County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Community Property Management offers quality and affordable apartments in Champaign-Urbana, including renovated units and various communities like 217 Neil and Hessel on the Park. summary from their website

Small multifamily
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Zindars Property Management offers property management services in Champaign & Urbana. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+7.2%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $226,109
Monthly Rent $1,312
Price-to-Rent 14.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.0%
Cap Rate 4.5%
5-Year IRR 11.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +2.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.5%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
10.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 61802

Population: 19,502

💰 Median Household Income
$54,251
This area
$54,251
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
46.6%
This area
46.6%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.4%
This area
4.4%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
37.5%
This area
37.5%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.6 years
This area
39.6 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.4%
This area
10.4%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 66.4%
Black/African American 18.8%
Other/Mixed 8.2%
Asian 6.5%
Hispanic/Latino 3.9%
👶 Under 18
18.8%
This area
18.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.6%
This area
18.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
12.8%
This area
12.8%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 61802

B Avg School Grade
5 Schools
16.4:1 Avg Class Size
$22,601 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Thomas Paine Elem School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
362 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$22,601 Per Student
A Very Good

Dr Preston L Williams Jr Elem Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
517 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$22,601 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Urbana Early Childhood Ctr

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
253 Students
👨‍🏫
18.1:1 Class Size
💰
$22,601 Per Student
C+ Average

Champaign Co Detention Center

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$22,601 Per Student
C Below Average

Juvenile Detention Center

📚 06 – 11 High School Limited Data
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

5 Nearby 3,857 Off-Campus Students
D
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture
171 students · 3.1 mi
D
University of Illinois System Offices
0 students · 4.3 mi
B+
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
56,563 students · 4.4 mi
D
Urbana Theological Seminary
17 students · 4.6 mi
C
Parkland College
6,018 students · 7.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,857 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Urbana, IL?

Typical homes in Urbana, IL go for around $226K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% measured price movement.

How strong is tenant demand in Urbana, IL?

Working renters make up the core of the Urbana, IL tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Urbana, IL?

Urbana, IL offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,312/mo rent level.

How should investors approach Urbana, IL?

In Urbana, IL the substantial play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $226K prices and $1,312/mo rents suits that approach.

How strict are landlord regulations in Urbana, IL?

Rental owners in Urbana, IL deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

You know 61802 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 61802 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

Compare Plans

How 61802 ranks in Champaign-Urbana, IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 61802 (Urbana)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 61802 (Urbana, IL).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.