Living in Bloomington, IL
College town in Illinois
Bloomington is a college town in Illinois, home to about 79,000 people, with 252,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.
Is Bloomington a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $235k and rents for $1,720 a month
- Mild summers: highs around 85°F
- Low natural disaster risk: 2 federally declared disasters since 2000
👎 Cons
- Higher taxes: about $2,002 state income tax per resident, 2.23% property tax
- Smaller job market: about 252,000 people live within 31 mi
- Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
- Few top-rated hospitals: no 4–5★ hospital within 31 mi
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Bloomington ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Bloomington: common questions
What is the cost of living in Bloomington?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $235k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,720 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 94, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Bloomington?
Illinois collects about $2,002 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 2.23% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Bloomington safe?
Violent crime is somewhat above the national rate (1.3× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Bloomington?
Bloomington has cold winters: winter days average around 37°F and summer days around 85°F, with roughly 7″ of snow a year.
Does Bloomington get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding, cold waves and tornadoes: 2 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.43 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Bloomington?
The nearest major airport is MDW, about 111 mi away.
How Bloomington scores
Each bar compares Bloomington with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Nearby
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Is Bloomington right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.