Finding a place to live in Aurora is no ordinary experience for newcomers. A mix of well-preserved history and community-wide creativity makes this city feel smaller than it actually is. Only Chicago has more residents, but Aurora's convenient and picturesque spot along Fox River has turned it into a transportation, entertainment, and shopping hub for urban commuters, suburban transplants, and lifelong locals alike.

Downtown streets are filled with masterpieces by everyone from Frank Lloyd Wright to George Grant Elmslie, who built more commercial buildings here than anywhere in the world. There are even dozens of still-standing homes built from Sears Catalog kits in the early 20th century. Among all this architectural history are rooms for rent, apartment complexes designed to blend in with the historic styles, and brand new units that keep springing up in response to growing business opportunities.