A family considering a move to Savoy was worried about the distance to private schools. If they were coming from the northern suburbs of Chicago, it would be easy to assume that a good school is within a 20-minute drive, but the Champaign-Urbana area is different. So, which schools are actually accessible for commuting?

One parent needed to find a home quickly as they were starting a degree program at the University of Illinois. If they were coming from the Chicago suburbs, it would be expected that the school and home would be about a 20-minute drive apart, but Champaign-Urbana is a small city, so often the commuting radius needs to be narrower.

The first place to consider is the University Laboratory High School in Urbana, commonly known as Uni High. This five-year school, located on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, was established in 1921 and has 325 students. Notably, there is no tuition, as they operate a system that waives various fees based on income. Admission is quite competitive, with an acceptance rate of 25 percent among applicants. Most students enter in 8th grade, and there are only a few transfer spots available from 9th to 11th grade. There is a dedicated counselor for college admissions, and starting in 11th grade, students can take University of Illinois classes for credit.

If a family prefers a private school with tuition, St. Thomas More High School in Champaign is often mentioned. Founded in 2000, this Catholic private school has tuition rates of $8,155 for Catholic families, $12,205 for non-Catholic families, and $16,405 for international students. Ninety-nine percent of graduates go on to higher education, with 78 percent attending four-year colleges. According to Niche, the most common destination for graduates is the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Rather than judging schools solely by GreatSchools or Niche scores, it's better to also consider actual visits and reviews from current students' parents. Especially for competitive schools like Uni High, opinions suggest that it's difficult to gauge the classroom atmosphere based only on online information.

So, what about home prices in Savoy? According to Redfin data, the median sale price over the past month was $405,000, which is a 33.5 percent increase from the previous year, and it is projected to be $424,000 by June 2026. The median list price for July listings is $414,000. Given the significant increase in a short period, it's realistic to compare various data when determining the right time to buy.

Due to the nature of being a campus town, the rental demand in Savoy and the Champaign-Urbana area tends to be steady, moving with the academic calendar. Investors looking for rental income should also examine vacancy patterns between the beginning of the semester and summer break. However, this can vary greatly by property, making it difficult to generalize. For families just moving from Korea, it's also good to know that the process for transferring schools during the semester is quite different from Korea. In the U.S., it's common to submit proof of residency documents to the school district registration office and receive an assignment immediately, which can feel simpler than the transfer process in Korea.

Since Savoy shares a commuting area with Urbana and Champaign, if you're targeting Uni High or St. Thomas More, it's better to first check the actual commuting routes and shuttle availability rather than just where to live among the three. For families coming from out of state, it's also important to consider the unique property tax burdens in Illinois. School district and private school admission criteria can change annually, so it's advisable to check the latest information directly on the school's website before applying.

For schools like Uni High that do not charge tuition, it's important to check the application timeline and exam schedule in advance, as these are set each year. Many families participate in school visit events starting from the previous grade, as 8th grade applications are the most common. Conversely, private schools like St. Thomas More tend to accept counseling appointments more frequently, allowing for more flexibility in scheduling.

This article is not investment or legal advice, and it is recommended to consult with real estate and education professionals before making any contracts or applications.