Woodside
Aiken, South Carolina
Champaign, Illinois
What It Is Like to Retire in Champaign
Champaign/Urbana is a college town of 82,500 people in central Illinois. A big part of this town's excitement comes from being the home of the University of Illinois and Parkland College. There are also a number of tech startups. M2 on Neil, a nine-story, $40 million, mixed-use project is located at the corner of Neil and Church Street. M2 on Neil features retail and office space, and 50 upscale condominiums. Livability named Champaign as one of its 10 Best College Towns in 2017.
Where to Retire in Champaign and Home Prices
There is at least one active adult community in the Champaign area. The National Association of Realtors shows the median sale price of home in the Champaign-Urbana area to be $183,700 during the 2nd quarter of 2021.
What Is Special about Champaign
Home to the University of Illinois and Parkland College, Champaign is a bustling college town with an interesting night life. During February 1969, Carl Perkins joined with Bob Dylan to write the song "Champaign, Illinois", which Perkins released on his album On Top. The first Farm Aid Concert was held at the University stadium to benefit farmers in 1985.
What Is Not Special about Champaign
Champaign is in a rural area and a long drive to either St. Louis or Chicago, the nearest big cities.
Who Will Like Retirement in Champaign
People looking for a small city in the mid-west that is also a college town might like Champaign, particularly if they went to school here. The population is growing steadily.
Local Economy Is Driven by
The University is the largest employer, followed by the School District, Parkland College, and Kraft Foods.
Climate and Physical Environment
Champaign is 135 miles south of Chicago in farming country, approximately equidistant from Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis. The average January temperature is in the mid 20s and the average July temp is in the mid 70s.
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
The University and Parkland College both make major contributions to the local cultural scene. The Art Theater Co-op shows critically acclaimed independent and foreign films, was built in 1913 as the Park Theatre. The Virginia Theatre is a huge theater from the 1920's that hosts Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival. Campustown serves as the entertainment and retail center for students at the University of Illinois. The Krannert Art Museum features both modern and classical art owned by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Trip Advisor lists 363 restaurants for Champaign-Urbana, and many of them look quite interesting, befitting a bustilng college town.
Crime
The crime rate is slightly above average.
Medical facilities
Champaign has 2 hospitals. Carle Foundation Hospital is a 325 bed regional care hospital. Presence Covenant Medical Center a 210-bed comprehensive medical center.
Transportation
The University of Illinois Willard Airport has domestic flights. Another airport is available in Bloomington (IL), 49 miles away. Two Interstate Highways intersect in Champaign.
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