Bloomington, INBest Places to Live in the US in 2022

Three of the largest employers in Bloomington are Indiana University, the Cook Group and Baxter Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, so it should be no surprise that the city’s largest industries are education and health care.

Indiana University – Bloomington

Bloomington enjoys four distinct seasons with summers that are warm and humid and winters that typically see lows in the 20s. On average, the city gets about 16 inches of snow each year, with nearly half that total confined to January.

Lace up your sneakers or hiking boots and see the Bloomington area on foot. There are more than 200 miles of trails, from paved city paths to trails through the Hoosier National Forest. One of the most popular urban options for walkers, joggers and bikers is the B-Line Trail, a 3.1-mile path through downtown with access to shopping and dining.

Bloomington is a young and well-educated city, with almost half its population under 40 and nearly 30% of its residents holding a Master’s Degree. Bloomington’s cost of living is below the national average. Being a college town, there are many third spaces for work and play. Libraries, laptop-friendly bars and cafes and coworking spaces are abundant in Bloomington, as well as a thriving nightlife. Bloomington also boasts well-connected public transit and walkable/bikeable streets.

The family-owned Book Corner has served the Bloomington community since 1964. The cozy downtown shop features shelves stocked with classics, the latest bestsellers, children’s books, gifts, greeting cards, journals, puzzles and more. Grab a book and a bite from a nearby cafe for the perfect afternoon break.

You don’t have to be an alum to get caught up in the Hoosier excitement over men’s and women’s teams across a dozen sports. If it’s a Saturday during football season, the place to be is at Memorial Stadium. If it’s basketball season, it’s Assembly Hall. 

You don’t have to be a student to spend the day on the Indiana University campus, which is often cited as one of the prettiest in the country. Founded in 1820, start a walking tour at the iconic Sample Gates, enjoy the beauty of landmark buildings and visit numerous free museums, including the Elizabeth Sage Costume Collection and Eskenazi Museum of Art. Be sure to wear your walking shoes – the campus is nearly 2,000 acres. 

Kirkwood and College avenues downtown are filled with popular spots to suit any mood, from upscale cocktails to beer and billiards, making it tough to choose just one spot. For a signature cocktail, try Serendipity Martini Bar or Uptown Cafe; for craft beer and spicy peanuts, The Alley Bar; for drinks and music, Root Cellar; or for pints in a pub, The Irish Lion.

Monroe County is home to a large corridor of Salem Limestone. Dubbed the “nation’s building stone,” it has been used in building 27 U.S. state capitols, the Pentagon, the Lincoln Memorial and the Empire State Building. 

With friendly residents, an excellent school system and a strong job market, Bloomington is a best place to live in Indiana.

Progressive-thinking and young at heart, this underrated Midwestern jewel is 51 miles southeast of Indianapolis and blends the amenities of a major metropolis with the warmth and friendliness of a tiny village. Home prices in the area have been steadily rising for years, and the median sale price for homes for sale in Bloomington, IN, now sits at around $306K, with properties spending an average of 35 days on the market. Families and investors will find most of the existing Bloomington, IN real estate for sale clustered near the city center, most of it being single & semi-detached homes and duplexes. Younger homebuyers are falling in love with the collection of newly-constructed stylish lofts on Kirkwood Ave, in the heart of Bloomington’s downtown area. Contact a local real estate agent to learn more about the Bloomington market.