mg532

Thanks so much for the information. I am planning on visiting in early May to find a place and sign a lease, but I want to do a fairly directed search and be clear to realtors what I'm looking for. I'll try looking a bit west of Downtown Champaign as well. Now I just hope that I don't miss the city too much - I guess Chicago is only an Amtrak ride away. Thanks again!

I am in my late 20s and starting a postdoctoral position at UIUC this fall. I'm relocating from Boston, so this is going to be a big change. I was wondering if downtown Champaign is a reasonable place to live if I am coming from a city (i.e., need some sort of hustle and bustle) but do not want to be surrounded by undergraduates. I noticed that rents are a bit higher right downtown, which makes me think that professionals live there. Is this correct? I found a place I really like online that is a block or two from the Virginia Theatre. Are there any other places that those of you living in Urbana-Champaign would suggest if I don't have a car (but have a bike) and would like to be walkable to things to do, but still not be living below or next to a frat party? Thanks!