With a population of 38,000 in central Illinois, Urbana makes up the east end of the Champaign-Urbana community. Connected to its counterpart through the campus of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, people may come to town for the university, but a vibrant local culture, lush parks and a relatively affordable housing market are some of the things that get residents to stay after graduation.
The U of I football team plays its games at Memorial Stadium near the Crystal Lake area.
King Park residents are a short distance to the Fighting Illini stadium.
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Suburban pockets and residential blocks east of Champaign
Urbana’s single-family home selection is mature and varied. City blocks of late 19th-century homes, newly built subdivisions and cul-de-sacs developed in the 1970s and 1980s are all within a few miles of each other here. Urbana’s median home value of about $198,000 sits below the national median of $420,000 and the state median of about $260,000, according to data from Illinois Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.
With most homes within just a few miles of the University of Illinois campus, Urbana’s home market is popular with owners interested in renting out their properties to students, along with alumni and young families. The city is also a prime choice for employees at large local employers, including the university itself, Carle Foundation Hospital, Champaign Unit 4 School District and Kraft Heinz.
East Urbana has charming homes located in their quiet and quaint neighborhoods.
Modern elegant homes can be found in the quiet East Urbana neighborhoods.
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Acclaimed learning at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Urbana School District No. 116 serves public school students in the city. The district holds a B-minus grade on Niche. Plans are underway to split Urbana Middle School’s student body across two campuses with the opening of the school’s Sixth Grade Center in fall 2025; the school currently holds a C grade on Niche. Urbana High School earns a B-plus.
About 1 mile west of downtown, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers acclaimed engineering, business, social science and computer science programs. The school’s Fighting Illini sports teams compete in the Big Ten conference, and basketball and football games are a popular pastime for students and the public alike. The university holds an A-plus grade on Niche.
Urbana High School which is near the Crystal Lake area has over 1,200 students enrolled.
Historic East Urbana residents send their kids to Urbana Middle School.
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Snow days and warm summers in the Urbana Park District
Meadowbrook Park includes the largest playground in the city, multi-use trails and nine garden features. The Wendell Sculpture Garden on the grounds is a standout, featuring a mix of permanent and rotating exhibits. A bronze statue of President Abraham Lincoln welcomes visitors to Carle Park, which was originally established in 1909 and sits near the campus of Urbana High School. Visitors can take a stroll down the paved and unpaved paths in the park, bring the kids to the playground or enjoy games of soccer and volleyball. For a slice of Illinois natural beauty just a few blocks from home, the University of Illinois Arboretum is a botanical garden featuring curated selections of local plant life.
Urbana generally experiences warm summers and cold winters with snow, according to data from the National Weather Service. Windy weather is common in the city during three of the four seasons, generally calming down around autumn before picking up again in the winter.
Crystal Lake Art Fair is held every year and is attended by many in the community.
Busey Woods near Crystal Lake has a great trail with a beautiful scenic view and nice wildlife.
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Shopping in Downtown Urbana and beyond
The tightly arranged grid of downtown Urbana is lined with varied local stores and restaurants, including the Common Ground Food Co-op at Lincoln Square Mall. Traditional supermarket shopping is also available at Schnucks, a few blocks north on Vine Street. A Meijer supermarket serves the southeast side of town, sitting on Philo Road near other dining and shopping options. For folks on the east end of town, Walmart covers everyday needs. Other business areas beyond Urbana’s city limits include the Campustown shopping district along U.S. Route 150, which includes a Target store, well-known fast food options and additional local dining about 1 mile west.
The U of I campus is close to the Fairlawn Park neighborhood.
Residents of King Park don't have to go far to find stores like Target for their shopping needs.
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Jamming out at Pygmalion Music Festival
The Champaign-Urbana area is one of Central Illinois’ prime hubs for live music and culture. Local venues like the Canopy Club, the Rose Bowl Tavern and the Anthem Bar are year-round options for tunes in varied genres. The Audiofeed Music Festival brings bands to the outdoor stage at the Champaign County Fairgrounds in early July; later in the summer, the Champaign County Fair has midway games, food and more in the same spot. Each September, Pygmalion Music Festival brings up-and-coming bands and internationally known acts to venues across Urbana for one lively weekend. Local artists are the stars of the show during the Boneyard Arts Festival, which showcases multimedia art projects in the cities each spring.
Rose Bowl Tavern near East Urbana has had live music and drinks since 1946.
Musicians take to the stage at Rose Bowl Tavern for Jazz Jam near Historic East Urbana.
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2 miles away from downtown Champaign
Interstate 74 and Route 150 are key east-west roads in Urbana, connecting the city to Champaign and the rest of central Illinois. Folks traveling without a car can catch Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District buses at stops along major roads such as Philo Road, Vine Street, Race Street and Lincoln Avenue.
Urbana’s primary medical center is Carle Hospital, located on the west side of town near University Avenue. OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center also serves the community. For trips beyond the Champaign-Urbana area, the University of Illinois Willard Airport is about 8 miles southwest of the city. Long-distance train and bus service is also available from the Champaign-Urbana Amtrak station.
Important things to know
According to FBI data, violent crimes in Urbana started trending upward in 2019 before falling again in 2022; the most recent year data is available. Property crimes have increased slightly since 2021, but remain much lower than their peak in 2015.
Todd joined the Real Estate Group real estate team in September 2020. He has been in the real estate industry since 2004, working primarily in the Champaign County area. Originally from Park Forest, IL, moved back to Champaign-Urbana in 1984 after graduating from U of I in 1979, where he received a Bachelor's degree in advertising. Todd is very involved in the community. He serves as Executive Secretary for the Champaign Rotary Club and was recently named the 2018 REALTOR of the Year for Champaign County. In addition to this award he received the 2007-08 Rotarian of the Year, 2007 Fred H. Turner Award from the University of Illinois for outstanding service within the fraternal system and the 2008 Chapter Advisor of the Year award from the Phi Kappa Psi national fraternity. Todd has served on the local REALTOR board as President of the board in 2014. In addition to the board of directors he has been chair of the Professional development committee. Todd also refereed high school basketball for many years and is a Commissioner on the Housing Authority of Champaign County, volunteers for Champaign Urbana Theater Company, the CU Ballet Board of Directors and with the Faith United Methodist Church.
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.
