Effingham is a compact, friendly Midwestern hub that punches above its size — affordable, walkable downtown options, local restaurants and breweries, regular community events, and excellent highway/rail access make multi-week stays comfortable and low-stress.
When you want a bigger-city day trip, Decatur is about a 64-mile drive and offers larger-hospital systems, expanded dining and shopping, and museum/entertainment options so you won’t feel isolated on a longer contract.