Gibson City sits between Champaign and Bloomington
Gibson City, an Illinois town of about 3,500 people, is a well-established community with plenty of homes, parks and well-rated schools. It offers lower property taxes than surrounding counties and is approximately equidistant to Champaign and Bloomington, making it the ideal location for many buyers. “People like Gibson City for its proximity to Bloomington and Champaign-Urbana for employment opportunities while residing in a smaller community,” says Realtor Brenda Keith with Brenda Keith Realty. “It’s a quiet and friendly community where everyone either knows each other or gets to know each other at community and school events.”
Farmhouses, bungalows and ranch-style homes
Farmhouses, bungalows and ranch-style homes are common here. The city’s residential streets have sidewalks, grassy lawns and mature trees. Home prices start around $50,000 for older homes needing repair and can get as high as $400,000 for large, newly built homes, but most sales tend to fall between $100,000 and $270,000. A new subdivision is currently being built off Falcon Drive, and lots are available for around $20,000 to $40,000. Keith notes that Gibson City has lower property taxes than surrounding counties.
Smaller class sizes and team sports in Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley CUSD
Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Community Unit School District No. 5 gets a B-plus grade from Niche. GCMS Elementary School receives a B, GCMS Middle School gets a B-plus, and GCMS High School gets a B. “The school district has smaller classroom sizes and greater opportunities for more kids to participate in team sports,” Keith says. High school students can sign up for sports such as baseball, softball, golf and track and field.
Parks, youth sports and Gibson City Area Pool
North Park has the city’s largest outdoor pavilion, alongside a playground, horseshoe pits and basketball courts. South Park has a playground, a basketball court and a campground, and West Park has a playground, a Little League field and a skate park. The city offers youth baseball, football and soccer leagues and a swim team that practices at Gibson City Area Pool, a public pool open daily in the summer.
Local restaurants, fast food and a drive-in movie theater
Casual local restaurants like The Kettle 217, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Los Caminos, a Mexican restaurant, provide hangout spots for residents. Residents can pick up takeout from fast-food chains like McDonald’s, Dairy Queen and Monical’s Pizza for a quicker bite to eat. County Market provides access to groceries. For entertainment, residents can head to the Harvest Moon Twin Drive-In Movie Theatre, which has been open for over 70 years.
Commuting to Bloomington and Champaign-Urbana
Gibson City is about 30 miles north of Champaign and 35 miles east of Bloomington. “Career employment opportunities are somewhat limited, so most residents commute to Bloomington or Champaign-Urbana,” Keith says. “There are many hourly job opportunities; it’s just more limited on professional career-type positions.” Gibson Area Hospital provides access to medical care, and the nearest airport is the Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal, 30 miles away.
