The Town FilesNormal, Illinois
Town in McLean County · population 52,736 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $213,600
- Household income
- $64,785
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 40
- Median age
- 25.0
Normal is a town of 52,736 people in McLean County, Illinois. The median home is worth $213,600, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Illinois towns, hipper than 93% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of Illinois towns.
How Normal 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 Normal is worth $213,600, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $64,785, which is more affordable than 15% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $965 a month. 54.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Normal | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $213,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $965 | $960 |
| Median household income | $64,785 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 54.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Normal
| People | Normal | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 25.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.1% | — |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 16.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in Normal
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
40 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Normal since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 8, 2000 about 8.6 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 72 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on July 13, 2004.
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 Normal itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Normal
19 public schools with 9,869 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Community High School | 9-12 | 2,111 | 15.9 |
| Normal Community West High School | 9-12 | 1,659 | 15.7 |
| Kingsley Jr High School | 6-8 | 730 | 14.6 |
| University High School | 9-12 | 629 | 14.3 |
| Chiddix Jr High School | 6-8 | 593 | 12.4 |
| Parkside Jr High School | 6-8 | 586 | 13.0 |
| Grove Elementary School | K-5 | 502 | 16.7 |
| Prairieland Elementary School | K-5 | 459 | 14.8 |
| Thomas Metcalf School | PK-8 | 449 | 9.4 |
| Colene Hoose Elem School | K-5 | 441 | 11.6 |
| Sugar Creek Elem School | PK-5 | 421 | 13.6 |
| Oakdale Elem School | K-5 | 412 | 14.2 |
Towns near Normal
- Bloomington, IL3.3 mi · 78,680 people · home $203,300
- Heyworth, IL14.2 mi · 2,791 people · home $210,600
- El Paso, IL15.3 mi · 2,756 people · home $159,400
- Le Roy, IL17.4 mi · 3,512 people · home $167,600
- Eureka, IL20.1 mi · 5,227 people · home $154,300
- Morton, IL25.7 mi · 17,117 people · home $239,400
- Clinton, IL25.8 mi · 7,004 people · home $102,800
- Washington, IL26.5 mi · 16,071 people · home $221,900
Normal questions
Is Normal, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Normal scores better for retirees than 17% of Illinois towns and quieter than 8%. 12.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 25.0).
How much does a house cost in Normal?
The median owner-occupied home in Normal is valued at $213,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,785, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $965 a month.
What is the weather like in Normal?
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 Normal get tornadoes?
40 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Normal 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)