2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Champaign, IL vs Carbondale, IL

Change Cities
Highlights
Are people in Carbondale older or younger than people in Champaign?
- The Median Age in Carbondale is 2.1 years younger than in Champaign.

Are housing costs cheaper in Carbondale or Champaign?
- Carbondale housing costs are 39.0% less expensive than Champaign housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Carbondale or Champaign?
- The average commute for residents of Carbondale is 1.8 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Champaign.

Things to do in Champaign?
Champaign, Illinois is a thriving university town located approximately two hours south of Chicago. It has plenty of recreational facilities ranging from libraries to state parks offering access to Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve or Homer Lake.

Things to do in Carbondale?
Carbondale, Illinois is a vibrant city located in the heart of Southern Illinois. Visitors will find plenty to do and explore, including popular attractions like the Giant City State Park and Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. The town boasts a thriving cultural scene with festivals, events, and live music venues all year round. Shopping enthusiasts will enjoy browsing through the abundance of eclectic specialty stores and boutiques. Those looking for outdoor adventure can take part in activities like kayaking or mountain biking at nearby Shawnee National Forest. With its diverse culture and plenty of recreational opportunities, Carbondale is an ideal destination for visitors looking to experience the best that Southern Illinois has to offer.

 Champaign, ILCarbondale, ILUnited States
 Population  Unlock22,388329,725,481
 Median Income$52,687  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock24.838.4
 Avg. Home Price$190,400  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.7%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time15.68  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Champaign    13 Reviews

Over 6 years ago

Pros - close to Chicago, has Parkland community college and lots of places to eat. There is a train station downtown that is really good. Beautiful deciduous trees and  More

   |    Reply

Over 8 years ago

I wonderful city with great  More

   |    Reply

Actually it's barely a nice place to live. The pros: Not terribly expensive - at one point the least expensive place to live in the country among modest sized  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Champaign

Reviews for Carbondale    7 Reviews

I've lived in C'dale for over 30 years. I got an excellent education here - Giant City School was great, though fairly insular and not very diverse (among its drawbacks  More

   |    Reply

Over 17 years ago

I like Carbondale. It is relaxing and an easy way to go about getting a college degree. It has its ups and downs, mainly with the people in the town not recognizing the  More

   |    Reply

All of the comments are negative here and seem to me to be misleading. The idea that you have to have a lot of money in Carbondale is ridiculous. The price of cultural  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Carbondale


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.