Champaign sits at the heart of Illinois' "Silicon Prairie," home to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and numerous technology companies like Wolfram Research and offices for Fortune 500 companies including State Farm, Caterpillar, and Abbott Laboratories. Founded in 1855 as "West Urbana," this city of nearly 90,000 residents combines Midwestern charm with a forward-thinking atmosphere. Renters appreciate the academic and professional opportunities, with the median household income around $51,000 and average one-bedroom apartments renting for approximately $1,013 per month.

The rental landscape in Champaign spans several distinctive neighborhoods. Downtown Champaign features apartment communities above local shops in historic buildings along Main Street and University Avenue. Campustown, centered around Green Street near the university, offers high-rise apartments with study spaces and fitness centers. The Garden Hills and Boulder Ridge neighborhoods in north Champaign provide townhomes and single-family rental homes with tree-lined streets and proximity to Dodds Park and Heritage Park.

Champaign offers excellent transportation options with three interstate highways (I-57, I-72, and I-74) connecting residents to Chicago (135 miles northeast) and Indianapolis (125 miles east). The award-winning Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District provides comprehensive bus service throughout the area, while Amtrak trains at Illinois Terminal offer connections to Chicago and beyond. Major employment sectors include education, healthcare, technology, and manufacturing. Residents enjoy 654 acres of public parks, including Hessel Park and Kaufman Lake, cultural attractions like the Krannert Art Museum and historic Virginia Theatre, and seasonal farmers' markets at Illinois Terminal and parking lot M.