Champaign-Urbana receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Champaign-Urbana
Laredo
Opportunity
52 · Bottom 42%
vs43 · Bottom 24%
Growth
77 · Top 9%
vs61 · Top 33%
Climate
60 · Bottom 25%
vs67 · Top 49%
Physical resilience
68 · Top 33%
vs70 · Top 29%
Housing affordability
97 · Top 43%
vs96 · Top 43%
Access
81 · Top 40%
vs86 · Top 32%
Economic stability
43 · Bottom 40%
vs47 · Bottom 45%
Measured values
| Metric | Champaign-Urbana | Laredo | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 238,842 | 269,294 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $65,528 | $63,058 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,775 | $24,920 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 124/sq mi | 80/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $201,700 | $189,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,043 | $1,027 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 57.3% | 64.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 5.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.3% | -0.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.3% | 21.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.7% | 21.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,005 | 1,142 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 8.4 | 4.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 177.3% | -21.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 88°F | 100°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 47°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.4" | 21.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 37 mi | 17 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 23.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.0 | 30.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Champaign-Urbana
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake.
Laredo
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Champaign-Urbana
68
Your Score
68
Area Score
Laredo
67
Your Score
65
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Champaign-Urbana, IL Metro Area · Laredo, TX Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology