Looking into Danville (Champaign, Wheaton, Urbana: real estate, income, rental)

[foster3097]

We are looking to move out of California, and Danville is one of places we are looking at (due to husband's possible job offer). I am having trouble finding much on this forum about Danville.

We have 6 kids (16,14,14,11,11,4) and want to live somewhere where there are things to do. (We live in very rural high desert area of Ca., not much to do for kids.) Looking for a safe area also. There is not much crime where we live now, and I know that where ever we move to there will be more than we are use to, but I want to feel safe in my own house. I want my kids to be able to ride their bike in the neighborhood or to the library, ect...

We homeschool the 3 younger ones and the 3 oder ones go to community college, so I am not interested in school district. I just need thing in the community for my kids to do to meet other kids.

Are their good and bad areas? What areas do we stay away from?

Is this a good place to invest in rental units?

What are utilitites like, especailly in the winter for a large home? (water, gas, electricity, phone)

I see only older homes in Danville, I like older homes, but are homes and neighborhoods kept up?

Is the town going to disapper one day, stay the same or grow?

Are taxes going to kill us?

Does it have a small town feel?

I appreciate any input! Thanks!

[BUalumni]

Danville would not be my first choice when looking into Illinois. The town is old, and really is in a sad state. Not much really happens there, and the only good part is that it is closer to Indianapolis than most cities in Illinois. I really don't think the town will be going anywhere within the near future except down. Instead of Danville, you should look into Champaign-Urbana. Much more family friendly and tons more to do. They are both HUGE college towns with large student bodies, but are still safe and clean. Like any town there are a few bad areas, but it isn't really that bad. I think that most people tend to make a bigger deal about the 'bad' side of town, just because the town is made up of an extremely educated body. The drive to Danville isn't too bad, but if you hate to commute than it is out of the question. There are several towns around Champaign that are growing like crazy. St. Joseph and Mahomet/Seymour are three. Although the last time I checked St. Joseph was getting more and more expensive. I'm sure that Danville at one time was really nice, and that many people still think this way. But for me it just doesn't seem attractive for families and way to rust belt.

[Katiana]

If DH is going to work in Danville, the Mahomet/Seymour area would be quite a drive, as it is on the west side of Champaign. I would second the suggestion of Champaign/Urbana, probably in a neighborhood in Urbana, as it is the easterly of the two (closer to Danville).

[HOWELL_STREET]

... That I had seen the subject of Danville, IL. However, that was quite a while back and might be buried in the archives(?).

I agree with other people that Danville is not very good. However, why not give us some of your other possibilities in case we are familiar with 'X' town of your choice?

One other idea that comes to mind is to reside on the Indiana side of Danville. Perhaps turn your direction towards Indiana but also keep in mind that you may have to pay dual state income taxes. Maybe 'yes', maybe

Sometimes states will honor each other's taxes but I am not sure in the case of these two states. That's because someone once said 'yes' and the other said 'no'.

Carter Glass
Wheaton, IL

[foster3097]

Could someone still let me know about utilities ect... I assume that they would n't change too much from city to city. Mine are very high where I live and an hoping that they are lower in the Urbana/Danville area.

I will check on the double income taxed. We were looking also across the border in to Indiana, but not if we are taxed twice. So, thank you for the heads up. I am guessing that all of the small towns around Danville and across the state line go to Danville for basic shopping (groceries, Walmart ect...)

I did check the archives before posting, it was interesting. A lot about childhood memories and resturants though.

Thanks.

[Steve-o]

Danville is like Richmond, CA in a strange sort of way. Does that help paint a mental picture?

[Paxtonian]

Look into Hoopeston, it's safe, the schools are good, and most shopping can be done locally. Danville these days is run down and full of crime, you could probably work there well enough, but you wouldn't care to live there.

[NYrules]

Danville is kind of like Lanford, IL in the TV show Roseanne from the 1990s. Dull, boring, rather old and run down, and kind of stuck some sort of time warp from the 1960s and 70s and has never progressed out of it. Here a lil of what to expect to see alot of in Danville. http://mayor.allarounddanville.com/i...%203-13-03.jpg Here is one I found of Danville's downtown. Danville Illinois History / Architecture - a photoset on Flickr
I would recommend Champaign to you. There are nice homes that were built on the eastern edge of the city right off I-74. They are mostly ranch style sided homes, but none the less are newer and nice looking. Champaign will give your entire family more options for basically everything in general from shopping to schools and eatting establishments and is only about a 30 minute drive to the Danville area as most people drive WELL in excess of the 65 MPH speed limit on that stretch of 74.

[foster3097]

The "Roseane" comment now paints a picture! I wwas looking online and noticed the golf courses, country club area, hospital, community college, Super- Walmart ect... and thought it would be nicer. The closness to a lake, Kickapoo area made me think that this is a place where people would want to live, at least those outdoor type. I guess it is an area that has potential. What is the mayor doing to improve the city? Bulldoze everything yucky down! With real estate so inexpensive there, if the city improved the way it looked, it would attract young people who can't afford to buy in Urbana, to buy in Danville. It is also a great place for businesses, being so close to the railroads, freeway and Indiana.

I do have concerns about having my husband drive between Urbana and Danville in the winter. Are the roads real icy, are they well maintained? Utilities?

[M TYPE X]

It costs money to bulldoze, and you don't tear down when nobody is exciting about building the new-new. I agree that it looks rather interesting on paper.
I mean, they have water. Champaign-Urbana is just dry and flat. Urbana is overrated: the schools and stores are dumpy. (Champaign and Savoy are much better.)

It looks like a WEAK ice storm is coming through here tomorrow. Note that Champaign-Urbana-Danville is relatively south. It will snow in Kankakee or Pontiac but rain here. Davenport has a winter storm warning, but we'll see a couple of hours of freezing rain at most. I'll go shopping tonight.

Originally Posted by NYrules

most people drive WELL in excess of the 65 MPH speed limit on that stretch of 74.

Just watch out for police along I-74 in the Oakwood area. It's rather 'well-patrolled.'
I-74, like most roads in midstate Illinois, is in OK shape, but pretty worn. Michigan is resurfacing a lot of its roads, but Illinois seems to not be able to procure the money from anywhere.

Proximity to Indiana means proximity to Indianapolis, but also Muncie, Terre Haute, Kokomo, and Ohio. I'm not sure why that's a selling point. If you are directly across from Indiana, it means that you are basically paying higher taxes than you would be in Indiana, but with flatter land, fewer trees, and (a different kind) of Roseanne.