Urbana

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Urbana, IL

Area Guide

Discover the unique charm of the Big Grove

Family-Friendly University Walkable Bike-Friendly Top Schools Historic Downtown

There's much more to Champaign's sister city of Urbana than you might think. It is a lively college town, home to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, it has a long and fascinating history, and it is family-friendly and beautiful. While it is usually tied to its next-door twin, Urbana stands out on its own -- Downtown Urbana is the city hub, home to Market at the Square, a farmers market that began in 1979. The historic downtown features historic architecture, bike lanes (and plenty of bike racks), sidewalk cafes, period lighting, and a wide variety of shops and restaurants.

In addition to the university, Urbana is home to the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, a research institute located on the university's campus. The neighborhood attracts those with children, thanks to its top-ranking schools, and it features beautiful parks, such as Crystal Lake Park and Meadowbrook Park. Historic Downtown Urbana is a terrific destination during its many festivals, which include the Boneyard Arts Festival, the Sweetcorn Festival, and the Pygmalion Festival.

Explore the City

Be sure to check out the sculpture of Abraham Lincoln in Carle Park in West Urbana.

Crystal Lake Art Fair is held annually and attended by many in Urbana.

King Park residents are a short distance from the Fighting Illini stadium in Urbana.

Rent Trends

As of July 2025, the average apartment rent in Urbana, IL is $1,160 for a studio, $868 for one bedroom, $1,042 for two bedrooms, and $1,256 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Urbana has increased by 4.1% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$868/month
626 Sq Ft
House
$2,008/month
1,455 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Urbana, IL

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Urbana, IL is 5.2% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Urbana is 17.3% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $868 - $1,256. You can expect to pay 2.4% less for groceries, 5.9% more for utilities, and 1.5% less for transportation.

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Transportation

57

Somewhat Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

44

Some Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

65

Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Leal Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

391 Students

Wiley Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

183 Students

Yankee Ridge Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

404 Students

M L King Jr Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

297 Students

DR Preston L Williams Jr Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

446 Students

University Of Illinois High School

Public

Grades 7-12

306 Students

Urbana Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

903 Students

University Of Illinois High School

Public

Grades 7-12

306 Students

Urbana High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,220 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Anita Purves Nature Center
  • Orpheum Children's Science Museum
  • University of Illinois Arboretum
  • Meadowbrook Park and Interpretive Center
  • Staerkel Planetarium

Airports

  • University of Illinois/Willard

Top Apartments in Urbana

Houses for Rent in Urbana

Property Management Companies in Urbana, IL

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2025.