Balanced lifestyle with access to the Mall of America
Situated on the northern banks of the Minnesota River, Bloomington offers a balanced residential lifestyle with a thriving outdoor recreation scene and nationally ranked amenities, all just 10 miles south of downtown Minneapolis. Established as a city in 1960, Bloomington was first occupied by the Dakota people for its fertile land and proximity to the river. Later, Europeans would further develop the area for agricultural use and to utilize the river for transport. In the 1950s, the city saw an influx of new residents after the completion of Metropolitan Stadium — the original home of the MLB's Minnesota Twins and the NFL's Minnesota Vikings from 1961 to 1981. This location would later become the site for the Mall of America, or the MOA, the largest mall in the country. Today, Bloomington is home to around 88,000 residents and has developed into one of the Twin Cities' desirable second-ring suburbs. The MOA continues to be a major area attraction, bringing in millions of visitors annually, while also serving as the city's top employer and providing nearly 11,000 jobs to Bloomington's economy. Despite the ebb and flow of tourists, community mainstays like the seasonal Bloomington Farmers Market and the annual Bloomington Summer Fete celebration showcases this city's neighborhood-feel. "Bloomington is a very proud, long-term community and people seem to want to stay in the area,” says Hope Palmer, associate broker with Realty Exchange. "It’s hard for people to leave the convenience and what Bloomington has to offer.”
People relaxing at the Bloomington Summer Fete.
The Mall of America has several floors of shopping near East Bloomington.
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Midcentury styles are selling fast
Homes in Bloomington span a wide price range and “the Bloomington market is moving fast,” says Karissa White, Realtor with Re/Max Advantage Plus. “It’s still very much a sellers' market with just a 1-month supply of inventory.” With a median sales price of $360,000, homes here cost nearly $40,000 less than the average U.S. property. In Bloomington, prospective buyers will find everything from established single-family homes featuring midcentury ranch-styles and split-level designs, to modest condos and expansive waterfront properties. The larger, more expensive properties tend to be found in West Bloomington, while East Bloomington is mostly smaller, older builds. Prices reflect size and condition and can range from as low as $100,000 for a one-bedroom condo unit to upwards of $550,000 for a new traditional. Some outliers, like lakefront mansions, can even reach prices as high as $1 million dollars.
A tudor revival home in East Bloomington.
Cottage-style homes can be found in South Loop.
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Name brand grocers and the largest mall in the U.S.
Instead of a traditional downtown area, the South Loop District offers an urban vibe equipped with Metro Transit access and a business epicenter. Bloomington is well known for its shopping scene and the Mall of America — the U.S.'s largest mall. Situated on Bloomington's east side, the mall is home to more than 520 stores, 50 restaurants, an aquarium and an indoor theme park. This retail giant attracts more than 40 million annual visitors, but surprisingly, most of the foot-traffic is from native Minnesotans. For everyday essentials, most residents shop at a variety of name brand grocers like Cub Foods, Lunds & Byerlys and Walmart, which are situated throughout the city. For fresh produce, the seasonal Bloomington Farmers Market is held on Saturdays from June through October at the Bloomington Civic Plaza. When dining in the area, locals have their choice of fast-food chains or family-owned eateries, many of which are located along Interstate 494.
Friendly service from local farmers is what you can expect at the Bloomington Farmer's Market.
The Mall of America is a giant 4-level mall with hundreds of stores.
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Year-round activities at the Hyland Lake Park Reserve
Bloomington is also home to 97 city parks. The Hyland Lake Park Reserve is on the westside of the city and spans 2,600 acres of greenery and lakefront property. It’s operated by the Three Rivers Park District and is comprised of amenities like Bush Lake Beach and Normandale Lake Park. Each summer, Bush Lake Beach attracts more than 100,000 Minnesotans to its shores. One of the most popular beaches in Minnesota, visitors can sunbathe or swim in the lake from June through Labor Day. Normandale Lake Park has an amphitheater and hosts a variety of seasonal events. It also has a boat launch, a picnic pavilion and 2 miles of trails with lakefront views. The public Hyland Greens Golf Course is a 9-hole course and driving range for players of all skill levels. Young engineers can visit The Works Museum for hands-on learning experiences and to explore a range of exhibits centered around problem-solving. The museum also hosts programs like Robot Day and SHE Engineers, which is dedicated to fostering women's participation in STEM fields.
Bloomington experiences all four seasons, with hot summers and freezing winters that average 60 inches of snowfall per year. The city also maintains nine outdoor ice-skating rinks from December through February and the Bloomington Ice Garden is an indoor option that offers hockey and figure skating opportunities all year long.
At nearly five miles long, the Bluff Trail provides quiet scenery along the Minnesota River.
Smith Park has a bridge that connects to a path.
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The annual Bloomington Summer Fete
In July, locals can attend the annual Summer Fete celebration at Normandale Lake. The event is hosted on July 3rd and features live music performances, local food vendors and a fireworks display to kick-off Independence Day. “Residents set up blankets early in the morning to reserve spots,” says White, who has over 15 years of real estate experience in the area. "And you can see the fireworks from several points throughout the city.” It’s a highly anticipated event and is considered one of the largest fireworks displays in the state.
Food Truck Lineup at the Bloomington Summer Fete.
Fireworks Display at the Bloomington Summer Fete
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High-marks at Bloomington Public Schools
Families in Bloomington are zoned for Bloomington Public Schools, which earns a B rating from the review site Niche. It serves over 10,000 students and is ranked in the top 20 of the most diverse school districts in Minnesota. In total, there are 11 elementary schools, four middle schools and three high schools. Most students attend Jefferson Senior High School, which earns an A-minus rating from Niche and offers 15 AP courses for higher education prep. For those interested in pursuing higher level degrees, Normandale Community College is located here and is the largest community college in Minnesota.
Kennedy Senior High School ranks #4 in most diverse high schools in Minnesota.
Valley View Middle has a student teacher ratio of 31 to 1.
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Take the Metro Transit bus or commute into Minneapolis on U.S. I-35W
Interstates 35W and 494 intersect along the city’s northern border, connecting residents to neighboring areas and downtown Minneapolis all within a 10-mile drive. Public bus routes are provided by the Metro Transit bus system, which operates throughout the city or when traveling farther, the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is 8 miles away. For healthcare, the M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital is 5 miles north of the community.
Crime
According to FBI data, in general, Bloomington experiences lower crime rates than most cities in the U.S. In 2023, the Bloomington Police Department reported significantly less incidents than the national average. "Crime is low because we have the best police around and a very involved police chief who says, 'In Bloomington if people break the law, we lock them up,'" White adds.
On average, homes in Bloomington, MN sell after 31 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Bloomington, MN over the last 12 months is $333,000, up 301% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
David Chase lives in the twin cities. He is the broker of Chasing Dreams Real Estate. He specializes in residential real estate in Bloomington and surrounding areas. Real estate is his full time job and has been a Realtor since 2005. David has lived in the area since 1982. Customer service is their main focus, if you are not happy, they are not happy. Honesty, trust, knowledge and hard work are important values he and his agents focus on everyday.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
