$252,987Average Value$211Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
An up-and-coming downtown in Illinois’ second-largest city
The center of Illinois’ second-largest city, Downtown Aurora is an up-and-coming neighborhood with riverside dining, entertainment and residential opportunities. It hasn’t always been this way, though: “In the last ten years, there’s been a definite uptick in development and new things coming into Aurora,” says Jennifer Bennett, a lifelong resident who’s sold real estate in Aurora for nearly 30 years. She credits this growth to the expansion of Aurora University and the success of the Paramount Theatre, a nationally renowned arts center. The neighborhood has grown rapidly in recent years, adding new restaurants, coffee shops and boutiques to accommodate its growing populace.
Downtown Aurora welcome city sign with colorful bikes placed in front of it.
Painted mural celebrating the Historic District of Downtown Aurora.
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Lofts over Fox River and historic single-family housing
Housing in Downtown Aurora is mostly lofts and condos, with a few historic single-family homes mixed in. The neighborhood’s most sought-after condo complex is River Street Plaza, a 2009-built, 48-unit development overlooking the Fox River. Offering walkability to the Paramount Theatre and all of downtown’s shops and restaurants, it’s the building many buyers want to get into when looking in Downtown Aurora. Prices in this building fall between $165,000 for a one-bedroom unit and $500,000 for a three-bedroom penthouse. For one of the neighborhood’s historic single-family homes, buyers should expect to spend between $200,000 and $300,000. The median price overall in Downtown Aurora is $255,000.
Victorian style home with colorful facade and entrance porch located in downtown Aurora.
Housing in Downtown Aurora is mostly lofts and condos.
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The Paramount Theatre anchors downtown entertainment scene
“Probably the biggest draw to Downtown Aurora is the Paramount Theatre, which is being recognized nationally and drawing some of the best theater in the country,” Bennett says. She adds that RiverEdge Park is also a year-round attraction. “It’s a huge concert venue that brings in major concerts all year long. It draws some really big bands. And this past winter, they had a Christkindlmarket that mimicked the one in downtown Chicago.” Throughout the year, residents keep themselves entertained at The Venue, which brings in bands from a mix of genres like jazz, rock and blues, and Hollywood Casino Aurora, which floats on the Fox River, sharing an island with the Paramount Theatre.
When in Downtown Aurora, take your pic of a Broadway-style show at the Paramount Theatre.
The bike and walk path bridge connecting east and west side of downtown Aurora.
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Live music at riverside restaurants, local shops and Illinois’ oldest farmers market
At the top of the list of Barnett’s dining recommendations is a riverside brewpub that’s one of the most popular hangouts in Downtown Aurora. “Two Brothers Roundhouse is a historic building where the trains used to come out from Chicago, turn around in a roundhouse and go back to Chicago before they had the ability to go forwards and backwards. They rebuilt it to be an absolutely beautiful venue.” Another popular waterfront spot is La Quinta de los Reyes, a two-story Mexican restaurant with margaritas and mariachis. Along the riverside and on the island, locals browse a variety of boutiques like Wyckwood House, a clothing store with a cocktail bar, and Hoof + Horn, a crystal store and apothecary that puts on classes and community events. Residents stock up on fresh produce and pastries each week at the Aurora Farmers Market, the oldest farmers market in Illinois, and they shop at Save A Lot and Supermercados El Güero for additional groceries.
Downtown Aurora Two Brothers Roundhouse
Downtown Aurora La Quinta de los Reyes Aurora
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Parks along the Fox River
Fox River runs through Downtown Aurora, and riverside parks like Steck Park, North River Street Park and McCullough Park allow residents to enjoy the neighborhood’s waterfront location. Located on an island in Fox River along Illinois Avenue, Veterans Island Park has a boat launch and is a popular spot for sunset picnics.
River Edge Park features a bike and walk path connecting Aurora neighborhood subdivisions.
McCullough Park has a many amenities including a new playground for Near West Galena kids.
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Getting around town and to Chicago
Routes 31 and 25 are the main thoroughfares through Downtown Aurora, but residents can generally travel on foot to nearby restaurants, bars and parks. “Downtown Aurora is very walkable,” Bennett says. To get to Chicago, residents can take the nonstop Metra, and they can take the Pace Bus to get around town. The closest hospital to Downtown Aurora is Ascension Mercy, three miles north, and the nearest major airport is O’Hare, 37 miles northeast.
Downtown Aurora
The Aurora Metra Station runs conveniently all throughout the Downtown Aurora area.
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Aurora East School District 131 and Aurora West School District 129
Students who live east of Fox River attend schools in Aurora East School District 131. They either attend Bardwell Elementary and Waldo Middle or Hermes Elementary and Simmons Middle, and all of these schools received C-minus ratings on the educational review site, Niche. All students in this district attend the C-rated East Aurora High, where they can earn the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy by demonstrating proficiency in two or more languages. West of the river, students attend schools in Aurora West School District 129: the C-rated Nicholson Elementary, B-minus-rated Washington Middle and B-plus-rated West Aurora High, which offers career academies in areas like automotive technology, computer science and nursing.
Nicholson Elementary School is located off of north main street.
West Aurora High School is a public, four-year high school.
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Aurora University aids the city’s growth
“One of the best parts of Aurora is Aurora University, which is two miles west of downtown,” Bennett says. “They had an expansion plan pass about 10 years ago, and the university has exploded in population, new buildings and amenities. It’s grown significantly and has brought a lot of attention to Aurora in a good way.”
Aurora University is in the center of the community and welcomes students from Aurora.
A birds eye-view of Downtown Aurora's many bridges on the Fox River.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Victoria McCoy,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Veteran's Memorial Island Park
Boating
Trails
River
McCullough Park
Picnic Area
Trails
Playground
Steck Park
Trails
River
Copley Park
Baseball/Softball
McCarty Park
Picnic Area
Trails
Playground
North River Street Park
Picnic Area
Trails
River
Blackhawk Park
Phillips Park
Transit
Airport
Chicago Midway International
54 min drive
Train
Aurora Station
Bus
Spring St & Broadway St
Bus
Galena Blvd & Lake St
Bus
River St & Benton St
Bus
River St & Cross Street
Bus
Broadway & Spring St
Bus
Spring St & Lincoln Ave
Bus
1 W New York St
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Downtown Aurora
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
5
4
Robbery
6
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Downtown Aurora Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Downtown Aurora, Aurora sell after 8 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Downtown Aurora, Aurora over the last 12 months is $240,000, up 29% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to your dream home! This beautifully updated, 2,500-square-foot, two-story residence on Aurora's desirable west side is ready for you to make it your own. With three spacious bedrooms and two modern bathrooms, this home offers comfort and style at every turn. Step into the remodeled kitchen, where you'll find sleek new cabinets, a gorgeous countertop, and brand-new appliances, including
Located in the heart of historic downtown Aurora on Historic Stolp Island, Leland Tower Apartments offers the excitement of urban high-rise living with the affordability and convenience of the suburbs. Enjoy all that “the city of lights” has to offer – the Paramount Theatre, Hollywood Casino, Waubonsee Community College and great restaurants and shopping all within walking distance of your front
*Nothing Available At This Time*Downer Place Lofts is located in historic downtown Aurora. The lofts are unique floor plans with an industrial flare. They feature high ceilings with exposed duct work and large windows. Each loft has a complete appliance package; including built-in microwave, dishwasher and washer/dryer. Additional features include; storage, assigned gated parking, fitness
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Victoria McCoy,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
1,735
Median Age
39
Population Density
5 ppl/acre
Population under 18
20.2%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
13.5%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$44,976
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$68,251
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
77.7%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
24.2%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
7.6%
% Population in Labor Force
66.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
37''
Average Winter Low Temperature
17°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
29''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
74/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
52/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
41/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
