The Town FilesBloomington, Indiana
City in Monroe County · population 79,168 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $321,400
- Household income
- $50,465
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 25.1
Bloomington is a city of 79,168 people in Monroe County, Indiana. The median home is worth $321,400, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks better for young professionals than 100% of Indiana towns, hipper than 100% of Indiana towns, more vibrant than 99% of Indiana towns.
How Bloomington ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bloomington is worth $321,400, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 6.4 times the median household income of $50,465, which is more affordable than 0% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $1,200 a month. 34.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bloomington | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $321,400 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $1,200 | $888 |
| Median household income | $50,465 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.4× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 34.7% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Bloomington
| People | Bloomington | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 25.1 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.4% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 10.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.8% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.8% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.6% | — |
| Work from home | 18.2% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 17.5 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Bloomington
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 20.6°F. About 49.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.5 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bloomington since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 20, 2002 about 6.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 19, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 67 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 8, 2015.
Severe weather in Monroe County since 1996
Monroe County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4704: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
| June 23, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1997: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And |
Jobs and pay in Monroe County
Monroe County had 67,215 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,879 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Bloomington itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Public schools in Bloomington
27 public schools with 11,928 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington High School South | 9-12 | 1,670 | 16.4 |
| Bloomington High School North | 9-12 | 1,562 | 15.8 |
| Edgewood Primary School | K-2 | 659 | 14.6 |
| Summit Elementary School | PK-6 | 614 | 13.6 |
| Edgewood Intermediate School | 3-5 | 597 | 15.3 |
| Tri-North Middle School | 7-8 | 543 | 13.2 |
| Jackson Creek Middle School | 7-8 | 535 | 14.1 |
| University Elementary School | PK-6 | 532 | 14.8 |
| Childs Elementary School | PK-6 | 493 | 15.9 |
| Binford Elementary School | PK-6 | 491 | 16.4 |
| Lora L Batchelor Middle School | 7-8 | 474 | 12.8 |
| Grandview Elementary School | PK-6 | 421 | 10.5 |
Towns near Bloomington
- Ellettsville, IN7.1 mi · 6,655 people · home $243,600
- Smithville-Sanders, IN7.2 mi · 3,323 people · home $259,100
- Martinsville, IN18.0 mi · 11,932 people · home $163,400
- Bedford, IN21.1 mi · 13,792 people · home $152,400
- Brooklyn, IN27.6 mi · 2,511 people · home $119,000
- Mitchell, IN29.6 mi · 3,933 people · home $114,500
Bloomington questions
Is Bloomington, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bloomington scores better for retirees than 12% of Indiana towns and quieter than 2%. 11.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 25.1).
How much does a house cost in Bloomington?
The median owner-occupied home in Bloomington is valued at $321,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,465, so homes cost about 6.4 times income. Median rent is $1,200 a month.
What is the weather like in Bloomington?
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 20.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.4 inches of precipitation a year and 17.5 inches of snow.
Does Bloomington get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bloomington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 20, 2002. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- 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)