ZIP Code · IL

ZIP 61821

Part of Champaign, IL

Pop. 28,611·Champaign County·159th most expensive ZIP in Illinois

Median rent (all units)

$1,536/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.7%

Month-over-Month

+0.3%

vs US Median

-$396

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 61821 · $1,536

More affordable than 70% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$970

1 BR

$980

2 BR

$1,160

3 BR

$1,480

4 BR+

$1,540

Research median

$1,160/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

November. Asking rents in ZIP 61821 usually run 0.4% below trend in November and 0.4% above it in July, about $12 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 61821 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2019.

Past year vs. the rest of Illinois

Rent in ZIP 61821 changed +5.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 172 Illinois ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.7%.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 61821 is 56.9% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($70,715) is $1,768 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,540).

Rank in Champaign

2nd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Champaign.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 61820, 2 miles away, rents for 18% less ($1,264/mo), about $3,300 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 61821. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$18,432/yr

At $1,536/mo median

Location

CityChampaign

StateIL

CountyChampaign County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 5.7% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.7% YoY, +0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 61821 (Champaign, IL) is majority owner-occupied, 48.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

28,611

Median income

$70,715

Median age

36.6

Renters

39%

Age distribution

19.5%

27.8%

23.3%

12.5%

16.9%

Under 1819.5%

18–3427.8%

35–5423.3%

55–6412.5%

65+16.9%

Gender

46.9%

53.1%

Male46.9%

Female53.1%

Race & ethnicity

56.8%

23.9%

White56.8%

Black23.9%

Hispanic7%

Asian9.1%

Other3.2%

Education (25+)

19.3%

26.4%

48.9%

No HS diploma5.4%

HS diploma19.3%

Some college26.4%

Bachelor's+48.9%

Housing tenure

61%

39%

Owner61%

Renter39%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 61821 in Champaign, IL has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,042 → $1,536

up 47.4%

Income

$59,031 → $70,715

up 19.8%

Population

28,986 → 28,611

down 1.3%

Renter share

42.3% → 39%

-3.3 pts

Bachelor's+

44.9% → 48.9%

+4.0 pts

Median age

34.9 → 36.6

+1.7 yrs

The median rent in ZIP 61821 in Champaign, IL stood at $1,042 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,536, reflecting a 47.4% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $59,031 in 2021 to $70,715 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 1.3% since 2021, moving from about 28,986 residents to roughly 28,611. Renters now make up 39% of households, compared with 42.3% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 48.9% of adults here, versus 44.9% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 61821 in Champaign, IL market of 2021.

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 61821

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 61821 covers Champaign, IL. The median rent here is $1,536/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $980/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,160/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($70,715/yr), ZIP 61821 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 61821?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $61,000/year (about $29/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,536/mo in ZIP 61821. The local median household income is $70,715/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 61821?

Rent in ZIP 61821 has risen 5.7% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2019.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 61821?

Asking rents in ZIP 61821 are usually lowest in November, about 0.4% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 0.4% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $12 a month. This pattern comes from 6 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 61821 compare to other ZIPs in Illinois?

ZIP 61821 is one of the more affordable among Illinois ZIP codes for rent, ranking #159 of 227 at $1,536/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 61821 changed +5.7%, against a typical +4.7% across the 172 Illinois ZIP codes Zillow tracks.