I’ve lived in Chicago, the suburbs, and spent 4 years in CU so far.
I love big cities, but CU is definitely big enough to have some of the amenities of a large city. The music scene here is excellent, especially if you’re into emo (American Football was based in Urbana after all). The transit system makes being car-free not too bad. It’s also a more “traditional” college town experience for what it’s worth. Plus, it’s only a 2.5h train ride to Chicago which makes it perfect for a weekend trip.