Living in Bloomington, IL
Explore Things To Do, Cost of Living, Top Restaurants and More

• 2025 Top 100 Best Places to Live
• 2024 Top 100 Best Places to Live

Thinking of moving to Bloomington, IL? You’ve come to the right place! You will find all the details about living here, from insight into the quality of life and cost of living to details about industry and job opportunities to lists of fun things to do.

Why You’ll Love Living in Bloomington, IL

There’s a long list of reasons why living in Bloomington, IL, is great. For starters, this is a college town – home to Illinois Wesleyan University. And everything that college towns offer residents is true here, too. 

Like many other college towns, Bloomington has diverse cultural offerings, plenty of restaurants and a wealth of other amenities. Add to that an affordable cost of living and an emphasis on sustainability, which is becoming increasingly attractive to newcomers.

Heading outdoors to enjoy a round of golf, having a play date at one of the dozens of city parks or spending a day at Lake Bloomington are even more reasons why this city is such a desirable place to live. In addition, Constitution Trail offers more than 40 miles of walking and biking paths between Bloomington and nearby Normal – next-door neighbors and considered one big community – that follow the old Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. The area is also steeped in history as it is the land of Lincoln – known as where the 16th president nurtured his political ambitions. The city is proud of Lincoln’s time there, and you can visit the places where the former president worked, stayed and visited on the Looking for Lincoln tour.

Top Reasons to Move to Bloomington

• The Bloomington economy is strong and stable, offering corporate and tech careers as the headquarters of both State Farm Insurance and COUNTRY Financial.
• Home to the Constitution Trail, a 45-mile multi-use pathway, Bloomington is an outdoor lover’s paradise.
• Bloomington’s college town atmosphere fuels the city’s arts scene.
• Bloomington is family-friendly with excellent schools and a tight-knit community. 

Bloomington is a friendly, vibrant city in central Illinois along Interstate 55, about halfway between Chicago and St. Louis. The closest airport, Central Illinois Regional Airport, is right in town, making travel a snap. When you’re set to explore, here’s how close you are to some major nearby cities:

• Peoria is just 40 miles west, where you can visit the Riverfront Museum, explore the Caterpillar Center or cheer at Dozer Park.
• Springfield is 65 miles southwest, offering the Lincoln Presidential Library, the State Capitol and Washington Park.
• Champaign is about 50 miles southeast, buzzing with University of Illinois energy, the Krannert Art Museum and Meadowbrook Park.

If you want to experience all weather, this area is an excellent place to land. Think freezing winters, warm summers and pleasant Midwestern falls.

Young professionals find work-balance satisfaction with the combination of significant employers and a lower-than-average cost of living. Insurance, education and manufacturing are major industries that help shape the local economy. State Farm Insurance is headquartered here, and other major employers include Illinois State University, Rivian and COUNTRY Financial.

The cost of living in Bloomington is slightly below the national average. The median home value in Bloomington is $216,436, and the average household income is $78,431.

Illinois has a state income tax, and Bloomington residents can expect a combined 9.75% sales tax rate in 2026.

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History buffs can explore the David Davis Mansion State Historic Site and the McLean County Museum of History. At the same time, art enthusiasts will appreciate visiting galleries and attending performances at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts and the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. For family-friendly fun, there’s ample entertainment at Miller Park Zoo, Children’s Discovery Museum and Grady’s Family Fun Park.

Beyond its arts scene, the city has a fun downtown area with many unique shops. Throughout the summer, Bloomington connects residents through outdoor concerts and events, like a producers-only farmers market and First Fridays.

Centered around its extensive park system and natural landscapes, Bloomington is booming with outdoor activities. The Constitution Trail spans 45 miles and is a popular spot for walking, jogging, cycling and rollerblading, connecting people to various parks and neighborhoods around town. Residents can participate in seasonal activities at places like Rader Family Farms, which offers pumpkin picking and corn mazes, or explore the natural beauty of Sugar Grove Nature Center and Tipton Park, which offer many trails and wildlife observation. Golf enthusiasts can play a round at several courses, like The Den at Fox Creek. Families will love spending time at Miller Park Zoo. There are also plenty of ways to get on the water here, too. Boating and fishing at Evergreen Lake, disc golf at Maxwell Park and hiking at Moraine View State Recreation Area will keep residents busy. Ewing and Franklin Parks offer serene settings for relaxation and picnics. With over 60 parks and easy access to Lake Bloomington, residents have many ways to engage in outdoor recreation and enjoy the natural surroundings.

Residents are well-fed, with innovative farm-to-table fare and traditional tastes. Local establishments like Epiphany Farms Restaurant showcase seasonal dishes sourced directly from their farms. Some creature comforts include Lucca Grill, Rosie’s Pub, Taqueria El Porton and Biaggi’s Italian.

Beyond the restaurants, locals can take advantage of the growing beverage scene. Destihl Brewery offers craft beers, and Mackinaw Valley Vineyard provides local wines. The Eat Local BN community initiative promotes local eateries and fosters a sense of culinary community.

Local families can take advantage of the Bloomington Public Schools District, which provides comprehensive education to all students from elementary school to high school graduation. Though performance varies from school to school, the district maintains a favorable 14:1 student-to-teacher ratio. The city also has a great selection of private schools, many of which are religiously affiliated. Bloom Community School in nearby Normal is a progressive, independent private school that is a great option, too.