Moving from LA to Urbana-Champaign (Mahomet, Savoy: middle-class, real estate, condo)

[lindenlu]

My wife got a faculty position in UIUC so we plan to move to Urbana-Champaign in June. We currently live in LA(actually Irvine, CA, about 40miles to downtown LA). We both came to US from China in 1997. We have a 2 year old boy and another baby boy due in July. We'd like to know how it feels to live around UIUC, where's the best place to buy a house, what you can do in weekends(for both adults and children), is there a diversified culture? I'm a software developer(mainly working on Java programming), are there job opportunities for me nearby? Any of your response will be very appreciated. Thanks in advance. - Linden

[Dominik]

lindenlu,

I have been living in Champaign-Urbana area for about 6 years. I went to UIUC for 4 years studying computer science and mathematics. Now I run a small internet related business from my condo here. Since UIUC is such a large school, it's mostly the students that make this twin city (Champaign and Urbana) come alive, especially the business district around Green street. I'm 24 so I don't know much about raising a family here. But there is a very nice park very close to where I live with bike trails and play areas for the kids, and the park is filled with sculptures and statues. It seems like the city spent a lot of money on it. The city has many gyms and fitness areas. (I know because my brother is a personal trainer and he has worked at many of them)

Wolfram Research ( http://www.wolfram.com/ ) is based from here so maybe you could get a software job with them. The Urbana area seems to be growing fast and there's a lot of new housing development so you won't have trouble finding a house. If you have any more questions email me at dominikm (a t) gmail.com

Thanks,

Dominik

[Elwood]

Champaign-Urbana is a great place and the University is a large part of that. Sad thing is, the public schools in town are a train wreck in comparison to the schools in the small towns just minutes away.

For the best in public schools in Champaign county, check out the small towns of Mahomet, St. Joseph, Philo, Fisher, Tolono and Savoy.

All are basically bedroom communities of C/U with not much in them, but they are all within 10 minutes of C/U, boast excellent schools, great growth, real estate opportunities and small town living with the convienences of the city just a few minutes away.

Best of luck and GO ILLINI!!

[transitfan]

I did the reverse, I lived in Urbana in the early 70s while my mom was in graduate school at U of I, then later on lived in the L. A. area from 1976-98 (I am now in South Florida). C-U is a good place to live, you'll have to adjust to the cold weather (though since you are from China, you may have experienced cold weather over there). As far as schools, if you stay in C-U long enough for your children to attend high school, I recommend University HS in Urbana. It is the laboratory school for UI and they are really first-rate. The curriculum is challenging though, so you should prepare your children accordingly.

Good luck in your move, and Go Illini!

[UKUKUK]

C-U is a great town and great for raising a family there. How would I know? I spent a short stint there. LOVED it. Go Illini! After the Wolverines and Wildcats (KY) of course

[zpfled]

Originally Posted by Elwood

Champaign-Urbana is a great place and the University is a large part of that. Sad thing is, the public schools in town are a train wreck in comparison to the schools in the small towns just minutes away.

Your kids can get a really excellent education in Champaign Public Schools if they take advanced classes (in high school). I've taught in Champaign (Central HS), and the teachers I worked with were really, really good. The schools definitely have plenty of problems. The test scores are not as good as, say, Mahomet. But the education your child will receive (as long as s/he is a good student) will be very strong academically, and far more well-rounded than you could get at Mahomet because your child would be attending school with students from all across the cultural and socio-economic spectrum, as opposed to the vastly white and middle-class student body at the surrounding towns. I have no problem with white, middle class people. I am one. But I would personally prefer that my children be socialized in a diverse school, where they can learn to be comfortable with all kinds of people, than be socialized in a homogeneous school. And the academic quality pretty much equal at the top. The best students in Mahomet and in Champaign get challenging classes taught by very competent teachers.

Originally Posted by UKUKUK

C-U is a great town and great for raising a family there. How would I know? I spent a short stint there. LOVED it. Go Illini! After the Wolverines and Wildcats (KY) of course

Gross.

[S_the_OWL]

There's nothing "enriching" about having your children stuck in class with a bunch of "low income" students. Low income usually equals low IQ.

[zpfled]

Originally Posted by S_the_OWL

There's nothing "enriching" about having your children stuck in class with a bunch of "low income" students. Low income usually equals low IQ.

No, not low IQ...poor academic development, often bad attitudes, and underachievement. But raw intelligence doesn't really discriminate on the basis of income.

We'll just have to disagree about whether or not there is anything enriching about being in an economically diverse school. I really value it based on my experience and values, you don't...and that's fine

[Drover]

This thread is 4-1/2 years old, people.

[bgain123]

My husband is taking a job in Champaign and I don't have one yet. Currently I work for the IRS but can't find anything there in Champaign. I want to know more about the cost of living..like housing, taxes and utilites. We are moving from the south and things are not that expensive in Mississippi, I consider this easy living here because we can afford so much more in homes, and other necessities to live, I'm just not sure about IL. Also how is the job market in that area.