Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Bloomington, IL

    Is Bloomington a good place to live?

    Watch Bloomington

    Bloomington ranks #2 of 87 Illinois cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (81/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.1% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $198,800
    +4.2% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,004
    per month
    Household income
    $75,449
    median
    Unemployment
    2.6%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Bloomington

    The median home value in Bloomington is $198,800 and median rent is $1,004 a month, against a median household income of $75,449. Homes cost about 2.6× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Bloomington crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Illinois the 2025 rate was 258 violent and 1,556 property crimes per 100,000 people — #24 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Bloomington, IL

    Bloomington has about 78,703 residents, 2.6% unemployment and 32% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Bloomington with

    Bloomington vs ChicagoBloomington vs AuroraBloomington vs JolietBloomington vs NapervilleBloomington vs RockfordBloomington vs ElginBloomington vs SpringfieldBloomington vs Peoria

    More: Where to move in Illinois · Best counties in Illinois

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report