Education in Champaign County

HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES: In 2006-2008 there were 76,000 households in Champaign County. The average household size was 2.3 people.

Families made up 55 percent of the households in Champaign County. This figure includes both married-couple families (42 percent) and other families (14 percent). Nonfamily households made up 45 percent of all households in Champaign County. Most of the nonfamily households were people living alone, but some were composed of people living in households in which no one was related to the householder.

NATIVITY AND LANGUAGE: Ten percent of the people living in Champaign County in 2006-2008 were foreign born. Ninety percent was native, including 66 percent who were born in Illinois.

Among people at least five years old living in Champaign County in 2006-2008, 14 percent spoke a language other than English at home. Of those speaking a language other than English at home, 24 percent spoke Spanish and 76 percent spoke some other language; 37 percent reported that they did not speak English "very well."

GEOGRAPHIC MOBILITY: In 2006-2008, 72 percent of the people at least one year old living in Champaign County were living in the same residence one year earlier; 16 percent had moved during the past year from another residence in the same county, 7 percent from another county in the same state, 3 percent from another state, and 2 percent from abroad.

EDUCATION: In 2006-2008, 92 percent of people 25 years and over had at least graduated from high school and 43 percent had a bachelor's degree or higher. Eight percent were dropouts; they were not enrolled in school and had not graduated from high school.

The total school enrollment in Champaign County was 79,000 in 2006-2008. Nursery school and kindergarten enrollment was 5,400 and elementary or high school enrollment was 24,000 children. College or graduate school enrollment was 50,000.

OCCUPATIONS AND TYPE OF EMPLOYER: Among the most common occupations were: Management, professional, and related occupations, 43 percent; Sales and office occupations, 23 percent; Service occupations, 17 percent; Production, transportation, and material moving occupations, 9 percent; and Construction, extraction, maintenance and repair occupations, 6 percent. Sixty-six percent of the people employed were Private wage and salary workers; 29 percent was Federal, state, or local government workers; and 5 percent was Self-employed in own not incorporated business workers.

TRAVEL TO WORK: Sixty-nine percent of Champaign County workers drove to work alone in 2006-2008, 9 percent carpooled, 6 percent took public transportation, and 13 percent used other means. The remaining 4 percent worked at home. Among those who commuted to work, it took them on average 16.6 minutes to get to work.

INCOME: The median income of households in Champaign County was $44,765. Eighty-four percent of the households received earnings and 14 percent received retirement income other than Social Security. Eighteen percent of the households received Social Security. The average income from Social Security was $13,751. These income sources are not mutually exclusive; that is, some households received income from more than one source.

POVERTY AND PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS: In 2006-2008, 20 percent of people were in poverty. Seventeen percent of related children under 18 were below the poverty level, compared with 9 percent of people 65 years old and over. Ten percent of all families and 30 percent of families with a female householder and no husband present had incomes below the poverty level.

POPULATION OF Champaign County: In 2006-2008, Champaign County had a total population of 192,000 - 95,000 (49 percent) females and 98,000 (51 percent) males. The median age was 28 years. Twenty percent of the population was under 18 years and 10 percent was 65 years and older.

For people reporting one race alone, 77 percent was White; 12 percent was Black or African American; less than 0.5 percent was American Indian and Alaska Native; 8 percent was Asian; less than 0.5 percent was Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and 1 percent was Some other race. Two percent reported Two or more races. Four percent of the people in Champaign County was Hispanic. Seventy-four percent of the people in Champaign County was White non-Hispanic. People of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS: In 2006-2008, Champaign County had a total of 84,000 housing units, 9 percent of which were vacant. Of the total housing units, 60 percent was in single-unit structures, 36 percent was in multi-unit structures, and 5 percent was mobile homes. Twenty-seven percent of the housing units were built since 1990.

OCCUPIED HOUSING UNIT CHARACTERISTICS: In 2006-2008, Champaign County had 76,000 occupied housing units - 43,000 (56 percent) owner occupied and 34,000 (44 percent) renter occupied. Five percent of the households did not have telephone service and 10 percent of the households did not have access to a car, truck, or van for private use. Multi Vehicle households were not rare. Thirty-five percent had two vehicles and another 16 percent had three or more.

HOUSING COSTS: The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was $1,280, nonmortgaged owners $458, and renters $699. Twenty-six percent of owners with mortgages, 11 percent of owners without mortgages, and 57 percent of renters in Champaign County spent 30 percent or more of household income on housing.

Source: American Community Survey, 2006-2008