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Champaign vs Springfield for Rental Property Investing

Side-by-side comparison of Champaign, IL and Springfield, IL — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.

Champaign wins 4–3 across key metrics
Springfield leads on cash flow (4.77% vs 3.96% cap rate) · Champaign leads on population growth
Metric
Champaign, IL
Springfield, IL
Est. Cap Rate
3.96%
4.77%
Median Home Price
$175,000
$135,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,050
$920
1% Rule
0.60%
0.68%
GRM
13.9x
12.2x
Price / Income
4.1x
2.6x
Property Tax Rate
2.04%
2.08%
Vacancy Rate
5.5%
6.5%
Population Growth
0.5% / yr
0.1% / yr
Annual Appreciation
2.2%
1.8%
Population
93,000
113,000
Median Income
$42,400
$52,400

Champaign vs Springfield: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: Springfield has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 4.77% compared to Champaign's 3.96%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $175,000 in Champaign vs $135,000 in Springfield, while rents come in at $1,050/mo and $920/mo respectively.

Growth & appreciation: Champaign is growing faster at 0.5% annually vs Springfield's 0.1%. Champaign leads on home value appreciation at 2.2% per year.

Costs & risk: Property taxes are 2.04% in Champaign vs 2.08% in Springfield. Vacancy rates of 5.5% and 6.5% are mixed — Champaign has the tighter rental market.

Bottom line: Champaign edges out Springfield on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 3.96%, Champaign's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Champaign or Springfield.

Champaign, IL
3.96% cap rate · $175,000 median · $1,050/mo
Full analysis →
Springfield, IL
4.77% cap rate · $135,000 median · $920/mo
Full analysis →
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