1869 · Bird's eye view of Homer, Champaighn (sic) County, Illinois 1869 · Wikimedia Commons
Homer’s story
Homer in pictures
2 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
HomerIL
A town of 1,245. Healthier than 74% of U.S. towns.
Photo: Omnedon · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
1,245
−10.1% since 2010
Typical home
$189K
+4.5% in a year
Household income
$86K
median
Median age
33.1
years
Jobs based here
116
A commuter town
What makes Homer stand out
The 3 things Homer does most differently from other towns.
100 U.S. towns● Homer
Health
Healthier than 74%
of U.S. towns on CDC estimates
Better than IL on 5 measures, worse on 2.
Outdoors
#196 most trails in IL
0.0 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves
0% of the town is conserved land.
$189Ktypical home
Housing
$189K typical home
36% below the IL typical home
Up 4.5% in a year.
Small town
1,245 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Homer’s report card
Now in Homer
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Homer is #796 of 820 in IL for “Shortest commute”. Fair?
Your answer becomes a post in Homer’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Homer. Another town gets a different order.
Health
Healthier than 74% of U.S. towns
Homer beats the Illinois average on 5 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2.
B+Health Grade
32 measures vs. Illinois
5 better25 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Homer | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 6.5% | 9.9% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 10.7% | 15.9% |
| More adults with depression | 23.8% | 19.8% |
Carle Foundation Hospital
14.8 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
73rd
percentile among IL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Homer
Most working residents leave Homer for work: only 3% work in town. The top destinations are Champaign (28%), Urbana (19%) and Chicago (3%). Half commute less than 16 miles.
3%work in town
Where working residents work
In Homer3%
Champaign28%
Urbana19%
Chicago3%
Tolono3%
16 mi
median commute distance
116
jobs based in Homer
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Outdoors
0% of Homer is conserved land
0.0 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves.
#196for trails in IL
0%
conserved · 0 of 624 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
#326
most conserved land in IL
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Homer Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Housing
A typical Homer home is worth about $189K
The typical Homer home is worth about $189,000, up 4.5% in a year, 36% below the Illinois typical home.
$189KZillow home value
Typical home value
Homer$189K
Illinois$298K
+4.5%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Natural hazards
High risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 70% of U.S. communities.
70risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtCold waves
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Homer has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 18°, and about 25 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
25″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter21–38°
Spring41–63°
Summer63–84°
Fall43–66°
Oct 21
typical first frost
Apr 20
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
A shrinking town
Homer has shrunk 10.1% since 2010
1,193 people in 2010; 1,245 today.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 · ACS
About Homer
Village in Illinois, United States
Homer is a village in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. Its population was 1,073 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 1,073
- Area
- 1.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 676 ft
- ZIP code
- 61849
More about Homer
Still missing for Homer:local news coverageupcoming events