Planning to move to the Urbana, OH area? The city of Urbana is thought to be named by Colonel William Ward following the American revolution and Northwest Indian War and founded in 1805. While not clear, the origin of the name is thought to have come from the Latin word for city, ‘urbs’. Today, Urbana is a great place to live and the rural area has a thriving economy and a downtown area with beautiful buildings from the 1900s that have been well preserved. Living in Urbana puts you close to Champaign Aviation Museum in Grimes Field municipal airport – the attraction Urbana is most famous for due to its restoration of historic aircraft, including a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.
Here’s what you have to look forward to after moving to Urbana, Ohio!
Where is Urbana?
Urbana is located in West Central Ohio and is the main city of the Urbana micropolitan area, the county seat of Champaign County, and located about 34 miles northeast of Dayton, OH. It’s 41 miles from Urbana to Columbus on OH-29 E/E State Rte 29 and I-70 E.
While Urbana is not known for having a robust public transportation system, the Champaign County Transit System provides low cost transportation to the public in Champaign County with special medical services provided within a 50 mile radius of Urbana.
Urbana Population & Demographics
The population of Urbana is 11,115 as of the 2020 census, which is about 680 fewer people than the 2010 census. Urbana has the largest population of the cities in Champaign County.
Clancy Brown was born in Urbana, and became a producer and actor most known for The Shawshank Redemption, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Thor: Ragnarok.
Demographics
- 48% men vs 52% women
- Median age: 36.5
- Racial and ethnic composition:
- 88% White
- 5% Black
- 4% Two or more races
- 1% Hispanic
- 1% Other
- Median household income: $54,414 which is about 90% of the $61,938 median household income of the state of Ohio
- Educational attainment:
- 89.3% graduated high school or higher
- 15.3% obtained bachelor’s degree or higher
- Foreign-born population: .6%
- Veteran status: 6% of the population (517 people) served the United States:
- 215 – Vietnam
- 65 – Gulf (1990s)
- 65 – Gulf (2001)
- 27 – Korea
Crime in Urbana
The crime rate in Urbana per 100k population is 2,299 which is 6.5% higher than the rest of Ohio but 2% lower than the total crime rate of the United States. Most crimes in Urbana are property related. Urbana is a safe place to live, with only a 159 chance per 100k population of becoming a victim of a violent crime, which is 59% lower than the national average and 48.5% lower than the state. The Urbana police department helps keep Urbana safe, with 18 law enforcement employees.
Cost of Living in Urbana
The cost of living in Urbana is lower than the national average, with a cost of living index of 90.4 which makes it about 10% less expensive than the national average. Healthcare and housing are most affordable in Urbana, with the cost of utilities reaching almost the national average.
The biggest savings in the cost of living in Urbana is housing. The median sales price of Urbana OH homes for sale is $165,000 and home prices are down 21.2% compared to last year. If you’re planning to rent in the Urbana area, you can expect to pay between $985 and $1300 per month for an apartment.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four would require an annual income of $85,040 to live in the Champaign/Urbana metro area.
Typical Urbana Living Expenses in the Dayton, Ohio Area
To give you an idea of what typical expenses cost when living in Urbana and the surrounding areas, here’s a list of common living expenses from Numbeo:
- Meal for 2 in a mid-range restaurant: $54
- 1 gallon of milk – $3.20
- Dozen eggs – $4.07
- 1 pound of chicken fillets – $5.84
- Average monthly bills in Urbana (according to Doxo): $1638 which is 18.2% lower then the national average
Urbana Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Urbana
Urbana is a rural area, and the neighborhoods reflect the country-living lifestyle.
Kingscreek – Small Family Community on the Outskirts of the City
Unincorporated community in Champaign County located between Urbana and Cable. Children are served by the West Liberty Salem Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, and some families choose to send their children to the Victory Christian School, a private school located 3 miles from Kingscreek.
Urbana Township – Home of the University of Illinois South Farms
Established in 1859, Urbana Township covers a total area of 23.84 square miles. A glacial moraine, Yankee Ridge, extends through the center of the township with glacial rocks and bounders frequently turning up on farms and construction cites in town. Urbana’s police department is located within the township.
Thackery – Home of the Heritage Cooperative
Located in southeastern Jackson along State Route 55 and southwest of the city, Thackeray is an unincorporated community named after it’s founder. Kids in the area attend Graham Local School District. The Heritage Cooperative has served as an agricultural cooperative for nearly 100 years with customized solutions for grain merchandising and animal nutrition.
Weather & Climate
Urbana has a Köppen classification of hot summer continental climate, with the hottest month of the year being July at an average high temperature of 82 degrees and a low of 64 degrees. You’ll probably find use for your swimsuit from mid June through September, which is also the best time to visit Urbana for outdoor activities.
The snowy period lasts from November to April, with February getting the most inches of snow in Urbana, with an average of 4.2 inches, but the coldest month is in January with average low temperatures of 21 degrees and high temperatures of just 34 degrees average.
Things to Do in Urbana
There’s a variety of fun things to do in Urbana and the immediately surrounding cities, whether you’re looking for family-friendly attractions, or romantic excursions for couples at night. Several points of interest include historical landmarks. You’ll also enjoy convenient shopping at Clark’s Market on S. Main Street and Urbana Connection on Scioto St.
Monument Square District in Downtown Urbana
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If you pass through historic downtown on a date or with the family, you may be wondering who is the statue in Urbana, Ohio? The Man on the Monument is a bronze cavalryman, facing north with his head bowe in honor of his fallen 3,235 comrades from the Civil War. You can see the top attraction, go shopping, get a meal, or attend events on the square.
33 Monument Square, Urbana, PH 43078. (937) 653-4219
Champaign Aviation Museum
Great museum with a significant aircraft collection including a B-17 under construction, D-Day veteran C-47, and B-25J among others. Great place to take the kids and teens in Urbana for WWII history lessons in the winter.
1652 N. Main St, Urbana, OH 43078. (937) 652-4710.
Hartman Rock Garden
You’ll want to visit this self-guided tour of a restored folk-art garden with over 250,000 stones with your significant other or as a fun trip to take with the kids outside. Artist Ben Hartman constructed the object by hand between 1932 and 1944 in nearby Springfield.
1905 Russell Ave, Springfield, OH 45506.
Additional Attractions In Urbana
Looking for more things to do in Urbana, OH? Urbana Parks & Recreation manages Melvin Miller Park, Pointe North, and numerous smaller parks in the city. Keep an eye on the Urbana community calendar for events and happenings around the area.
Urbana Restaurants
It’s small size doesn’t stop the city from having some incredible Urbana restaurants to choose from!
Fusion 40.83
A favorite Urbana restaurant of the locals, Fusion 40.83 offers local cuisine prepared fresh. Known for their perfectly seasoned steak, Fusion offers a wide selection of beef, seafood, lamb, and chicken dishes.
115 Miami St, Urbana, OH 43078. (937) 508-4145
Cafe Paradiso
A casual restaurant with comfortable outdoor seating, indoor seating, and takeout, Cafe Paradiso brings Tuscany to West Central Ohio and is perfect for lunch with the girls, date night, or for enjoying a meal out with the whole family. Reasonable prices and large portion sizes, you can choose from house specialities like lobster ravioli, pasta dishes, salads, and seasonal favorites.
13 Monument Sq, Urbana, OH 43078. (937) 6563-8040.
The Farmer’s Daughter
When you’re craving home cooked favorites but you don’t feel like cooking, head to the best Americana restaurant in Urbana: The Farmer’s Daughter. Serving breakfast, lunch, an dinner, you have so much to choose from you’ll probably struggle to pick your favorite! Order southern style fried chicken with an extra to-go order to enjoy at home.
904 Miami St, Urbana, OH 43078. (937) 653-3276
Jobs in Urbana
The Urbana economy employes 4.88k people with the largest industries in manufacturing, retail trade, and health care and social assistance. The highest paying industries in Urbana include utilities and transportation and warehousing.
The average base hourly rate in Urbana, Ohio is $17.82 per hour, with trends showing wages have declined since Q4 2022 according to Payscale.
Here’s what you can expect to earn in common occupations:
- Dietary Aide – $13
- Personal Banker – $17
- Nurse – $20
- Construction Framer – $15
- Machinist – $16
Mercy Health is the name of the hospital in Urbana and offers several career paths in administration, medical, and nursing.
The top employers in Champaign County include:
- KTH Parts Industries
- Rittal Corporation
- Honeywell International Inc
- Russell T. Bundy Associates
Want to explore your career options before moving to Urbana? Start with City of Urbana jobs and positions on Indeed.
Urbana Schools
Families with school aged children are served by the Urbana City Schools District, featuring Urbana Elementary School for grades pre-k through 5, Urbana Junior High for grades 6 to 8, and Urbana High School for grades 9 to 12. About 270 area students are enrolled in another public district through open enrollment, 1,568 students enrolled in the Urbana City School District, and 79 students enrolled in an online community school.
There are a couple of private schools in Urbana and the surrounding areas, including Victory Christian School, Grace Baptist Academy, and St. Mary Parish Center School.
Urbana Statistics & Information
- County: Champaign
- Urbana Area: 7.91 square miles
- Urbana Zip Code: 43078
- Urbana Area Code(s): 937,326
- Urbana Elevation: 1050 feet
- Urbana Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST)
- Closest Airport to Urbana: James M. Cox Dayton International Airport (DAY / KDAY), 38 miles to Urbana
Urbana, OH Map
You can find more things to do, additional restaurants, and a variety of amenities with this map of Urbana.
Ready to enjoy the amazing quality of life living in Urbana? Call Krupp Moving & Storage for a free moving quote from our experienced and top-rated Urbana movers!
