Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Bloomington, IN

    Is Bloomington a good place to live?

    Watch Bloomington

    Bloomington ranks #35 of 40 Indiana cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (34/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.3% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $289,700
    +8.1% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,160
    per month
    Household income
    $48,918
    median
    Unemployment
    6.2%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Bloomington

    The median home value in Bloomington is $289,700 and median rent is $1,160 a month, against a median household income of $48,918. Homes cost about 5.9× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Bloomington crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Indiana the 2025 rate was 300 violent and 1,252 property crimes per 100,000 people — #35 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Bloomington, IN

    Bloomington has about 78,791 residents, 6.2% unemployment and 25% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Bloomington with

    Bloomington vs Indianapolis cityBloomington vs Fort WayneBloomington vs EvansvilleBloomington vs South BendBloomington vs FishersBloomington vs CarmelBloomington vs HammondBloomington vs Noblesville

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

    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