“Like a good neighbor” is an advertising motto made famous by Bloomington’s most prominent employer. But it makes sense that the phrase was born in this Central Illinois city, which embodies that spirit. “They'll still hold the door for you here,” says Realtor Matt Hansen of Team NexDwell Coldwell Banker. “You've got that small-town Midwest kindness. But, at the same time, in two-and-a-half hours, you can be in three of the greatest cities in the Midwest — St. Louis, Chicago and Indianapolis.”
Fittingly, Bloomington’s neighborly reputation extends to a hand-in-hand relationship with Normal, its neighboring city. The two places are considered twin cities in this region, going by the shorthand moniker “BloNo.”
“They’re pretty similar,” says Realtor Brady Lockenour of HomeSmart Realty Group. “There are times where you might think you’re in Bloomington and not realize you’re in Normal or think you’re in Normal and not realize you’re in Bloomington.”
The whole family will love attending the Bloomington Farmers Market.
Bloomington features nicely maintained sidewalks for bikers and runners to enjoy.
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Central location plays a role in economic growth
State Farm Insurance has made Bloomington its home base since its founding in 1922. Country Financial, another insurer in the Fortune 1,000, is also based in Bloomington. But the economy isn’t entirely dependent on insurance giants. Electric SUV maker Rivian opened a manufacturing plant in Normal that’s now the area’s second-largest private employer. Snack maker Beer Nuts is based in Bloomington, and European chocolate maker Ferrero opened its first chocolate processing facility in North America here in early 2024. Bloomington-Normal’s central location is vital to its economic growth. The cities are roughly midway between Chicago and St. Louis along Interstate 55. The interstate replaced Historic Route 66 as the byway between the two cities. Interstate 74 leads 40 miles northwest to Peoria and 175 miles east to Indianapolis. Interstate 39, which runs through the middle of the state, travels 130 miles north to Rockford.
Central Illinois Regional Airport has direct flights to Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver and Orlando. “It’s super nice and convenient,” Lockenour says of the airport. “But the cost will often be $100 or $200 more than flying from Chicago, so a lot of times I’ll drive up." Bloomington-Normal also benefits from being on Amtrak’s high-speed route between Chicago and St. Louis.
Getting around town is much easier than in those nearby, larger cities. “The cool thing is you can get from one end of Bloomington to the other end of Normal within 15 minutes,” Hansen says. “It really hasn’t changed much with the growth.” Public transportation is available on Connect Transit, which has 15 color-coded bus routes in Bloomington and Normal.
College populations shape life, plus a pair of school districts
Three colleges shape life in the area: Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois State University and Heartland Community College in Normal. With around 1,600 undergraduates at Illinois Wesleyan compared to ISU’s enrollment of more than 21,000, the disparity in student population is a notable difference between Bloomington and Normal. Most students attend Bloomington Public Schools District 87, which receives a B-grade on Niche. The district is ranked the second-most diverse in Illinois.
Students living north of Central Illinois Regional Airport attend McLean County Unified School District No. 5, primarily serving Normal. District No. 5 has an A-minus rating. Private Central Catholic High School, also just north of the airport, is A-minus rated. Students in Bloomington are also eligible to apply to ISU's lab schools: A-plus-rated Thomas Metcalf School and A-rated University High School.
Bloomington is just minutes from Illinois State University.
Illinois Wesleyan University is a local college option for residents of Bloomington.
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Home values far more affordable than Chicago suburbs
Housing prices in Bloomington and Normal are relatively similar. Both have a median home price in the mid $200,000s, significantly lower than the national median.
The Bloomington market also favors investors due to a high number of college students and young professionals moving in from out of town and initially renting. “A lot of people who move in rent at first,” Lockenour says. “But lots of college students end up staying here.”
Housing options can range from early Victorian-era homes to modern subdivisions of contemporary custom styles, with prices as low as $175,000 to north of $1 million. “All the time, people are coming down from the Chicago suburbs,” Hansen says. “Because even though prices have gone up, Central Illinois is extremely low compared to national averages.” The city’s housing options also include townhouses, duplexes and some manufactured homes.
Beautiful front porches are on full display throughout Bloomington.
Bloomington has many large homes with lots of windows for natural light.
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Constitution Trail and Miller Park Zoo among recreational highlights
Like most Midwesterners, Bloomington residents take advantage of the ability to get outside from spring through fall. The city manages 44 parks that cover more than 1,000 acres. Miller Park, covering nearly 68 acres, is the gem of the system thanks to the Miller Park Zoo. Constitution Trail’s 37-mile-long route is another recreational highlight. “Constitution Trail is really cool,” Lockenour says. “There’s not much terrain, but you are surrounded by trees most of the way. So that’s kind of nice.”
Bloomington also punches above its weight as a golf community. In 2005, Golf Digest named Bloomington-Normal the No. 5 best American city for golf, and the area’s courses are still well regarded even if the ranking no longer applies. Bloomington features three country clubs and three public courses managed by Bloomington Park District.
Bloomington Ice Center, which features youth and adult hockey leagues, is a popular recreation venue during winter months.
The Constitution Trail runs through the heart of Atwood Wayside Park in Bloomington.
Built in the 1930's, Highland Park Golf Course offers 18-holes for residents of Bloomington.
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A variety of shopping and dining options for its size
For a city with a population of around 80,000, Bloomington has a wide variety of shopping and dining choices. “My No. 1 pro about living in Bloomington is it has tons of food options,” Lockenour says. “Lots of variety. Whatever you’re feeling, you can find it.” Well, almost everything. “We don’t have a Trader Joe’s or a Cheesecake Factory or some of these biggest restaurants or shopping experiences that some people want,” Hansen says. “Some amenities we just don’t have because we’re not that large of a city. But that’s the beauty of being able to take a day trip anywhere nearby. Any type of thing you’d want to do with your family or by yourself, you can go there.” Local favorites include upscale Mexican restaurant Ancho & Agave and the nearly century-old Italian eatery Lucca Grill. Eastland Mall, which features more than 90 stores, is Bloomington’s largest retail center.
Eastland Mall offers retails and restaurants for Bloomington residents.
Lucca Grill in Bloomington has a great historic interior complete with a tin ceiling.
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Vibrant arts scene includes Illinois Shakespeare Festival
Bloomington is known for its vibrant arts scene. The downtown Cultural District is anchored by the McLean County Arts Center and the Bloomington Center for Performing Arts. The McLean County Arts Center dates to the 1890s and features monthly art exhibitions. Bloomington Center for Performing Arts hosts more than 400 performances and community events each year and serves as the home of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. The Illinois Shakespeare Festival is held at the Ewing Cultural Center’s outdoor amphitheater every summer.
Major annual events include the Sugar Creek Arts Festival and the McLean County Fair.
Grossinger Motors Arena, which can accommodate 7,000 fans, has made Bloomington a viable tour stop for artists such as John Mayer, Kenny Chesney, Rod Stewart and local heroes REO Speedwagon. In 2024, the Bloomington Bison, an ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers, dropped the puck on their first season at the arena.
Tornadoes a common concern in McLean County
McLean County is certainly in tornado alley, with 115 twisters touching down here since 1950. However, only three of those storms have ever been measured at F3 or higher, and no fatalities have been associated with any modern-day tornadoes in the county. McLean County’s emergency system, which includes warning sirens in Bloomington and Normal, has successfully kept the communities alert to nearby tornadoes.
The 2023 property crime rate in Bloomington was slightly higher than the national average, but violent crime rates are about half the national average.
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