Edwardsville, IL 150 Apartments for Rent

Abraham Lincoln once said, "Whatever you are, be a good one." The plumbers of Edwardsville took the former president's statement to heart, and word of the awesome community they formed leaked out.

Don't ever underestimate the power of plumbing. It helped Edwardsville, located on the western side of Illinois in Madison County, to become the construction capital it is today. Starting out as a model village cooperative for plumbing factories' workers, then-named Leclaire grew prosperous by offering its plumbing personnel fair wages, reasonable working hours and a share of the profits. Workers were able to purchase their own homes, and they developed a sense of community which still exists today. Ultimately incorporated into Edwardsville, the town continues to prosper as it protects its plumbing pedigree.

Moving to Edwardsville

How Much Will it Cost?

Living in Edwardsville costs about 9.5% less than in the rest of the country. Even better, the price of pizza is 6.5% lower than the national average. Low rates for homes for rent in Edwardsville are available in most areas of town.

When Should I Start Looking?

Family Circle and NerdWallet have both touted the benefits of Edwardsville living, and about 25% of the town's 24,293 are renters. The point: You're going to have competition for that special place you're hoping to move into. You should probably start looking for** rental homes about four to six weeks out from your proposed move-in date, longer if you want to move during a semester break. You could find something sooner, but if you don't, you might end up inspecting more of Edwardsville's historic plumbing than you expected.

Where Should I Look?

Edwardsville is one of those rare places where you'll find decent one and two bedroom apartments throughout town. This third-oldest town in Illinois has a high livability score of 85 out of 100. If you are of a historical bent, The Wabash Hotel, built on the northwest corner of North Main and Union Street, is now an apartment building. You may even score condos for rent in the city center.

What You Need to Move There

You'll need the "usual" to secure a house rental or apartment complex home in Edwardsville. Have your credit score, letter verifying employment and salary, and a copy of your last paycheck stub. When it gets serious, you'll need cash in the form of a cashier's or Bank check. Prepare for first month's rent and that good old security deposit.

Life in the City

Edwardsville may not be super-strict on its neighborhood definitions, but some spots definitely have unique charm. Be sure to scope out the city's treasures, which make it an ideal place to reside.

Many Edwardsville homes can be found in the Historic District, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This charming area dates back to 1809, and the residential route features over 50 historic homes from the 18th and 19th centuries. Another historic can be found at the Edwardsville Children's Museum, which is located in the former Leclaire schoolhouse.

Another spot with its own flair can be found at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. The University is a big part of town life, and residents have been known to support their SUIE Cougars. Aside from providing spectators with sports to watch, the University also provides the community with a source of botanical bliss. The Gardens at SUIE feature 35-acres of woodlands, water features and everything green for the public to enjoy.

Another not-to-miss Edwardsville spot is the Wildey Theater, which originally opened April 12, 1909 as an opera house on Main Street with its first performance of "Girl At the Helm." A reviewer for the Edwardsville Intelligencer complimented the performance but gamely identified the theater as the real star. Today, it delivers live theater and classic films within its beautifully renovated walls.

Street entertainment, live music and goodies galore can be found at the Lands of Goshen Community Market, which has has provided Edwardsville residents with fresh goodies and unique treats since 1997. Shop for seasonal fruits and vegetables, farm fresh eggs, naturally raised meats -- beef, pork and poultry -- along with baked goods, pottery, jewelry, honey, soaps, seedlings and colorful bouquets of cut flowers while you socialize with your neighbors.

Getting Around

Edwardsville-ians take their pedaling seriously. With 86 miles of bike trails, Madison County Transit ( MCT) has equipped all of its buses with bike racks to provide accessible connections between the MCT bikeway and bus systems. MCT has even printed guides explaining how to load and unload the pedal pushers from the buses. Now people throughout Madison County can give their cars a break and bike/bus for transportation, as well as for recreation. In fact, MCT carries an average of 800 bikes each month, which equal more than 12,000 bike and bus participants (and growing!) since 2003. Fares are fair and monthly passes are a bargain. While this stellar system hasn't made the car obsolete, it's a great alternative to have accessible.