The Town FilesBloomington, Illinois
City in McLean County · population 78,680 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $203,300
- Household income
- $77,384
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 38
- Median age
- 36.2
Bloomington is a city of 78,680 people in McLean County, Illinois. The median home is worth $203,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 96% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 90% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of Illinois towns.
How Bloomington ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bloomington is worth $203,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $77,384, which is more affordable than 35% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,050 a month. 61.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bloomington | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $203,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,050 | $960 |
| Median household income | $77,384 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 61.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Bloomington
| People | Bloomington | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.3% | — |
| Work from home | 20.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 16.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Bloomington
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 39.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bloomington since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 8, 2000 about 5.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 25, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 67 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on November 17, 2013.
Severe weather in McLean County since 1996
McLean County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in McLean County
McLean County had 88,945 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,183 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Bloomington itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Bloomington
19 public schools with 7,917 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington High School | 9-12 | 1,395 | 13.7 |
| Bloomington Jr High School | 6-8 | 997 | 11.9 |
| Evans Junior High School | 6-8 | 776 | 14.1 |
| Benjamin Elem School | K-5 | 629 | 18.5 |
| Northpoint Elementary School | K-5 | 465 | 14.1 |
| Oakland Elementary School | K-5 | 428 | 14.3 |
| Cedar Ridge Elem School | K-5 | 386 | 11.0 |
| Bent Elem School | K-5 | 370 | 14.2 |
| Washington Elem School | K-5 | 356 | 16.2 |
| Sheridan Elem School | K-5 | 355 | 14.2 |
| Brigham Elementary | PK-PK | 323 | 13.5 |
| Irving Elementary School | K-5 | 312 | 12.5 |
Towns near Bloomington
- Normal, IL3.3 mi · 52,736 people · home $213,600
- Heyworth, IL11.2 mi · 2,791 people · home $210,600
- Le Roy, IL14.5 mi · 3,512 people · home $167,600
- El Paso, IL18.5 mi · 2,756 people · home $159,400
- Clinton, IL22.7 mi · 7,004 people · home $102,800
- Eureka, IL23.0 mi · 5,227 people · home $154,300
- Morton, IL27.8 mi · 17,117 people · home $239,400
- Washington, IL29.1 mi · 16,071 people · home $221,900
Bloomington questions
Is Bloomington, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bloomington scores better for retirees than 31% of Illinois towns and quieter than 9%. 14.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.2).
How much does a house cost in Bloomington?
The median owner-occupied home in Bloomington is valued at $203,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,384, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,050 a month.
What is the weather like in Bloomington?
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.4 inches of precipitation a year and 6.5 inches of snow.
Does Bloomington get tornadoes?
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bloomington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 8, 2000. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)