Best Places to Live in Normal, Illinois

Normal, Illinois is a vibrant city located in McLean County, just north of Bloomington-Normal. It is home to Illinois State University and has a bustling downtown area with numerous shops, restaurants, and businesses. Normal is a major hub in the region for healthcare, finance and education opportunities. There are abundant recreational options including natural areas, parks and trails that offer plenty of outdoor activities. A variety of cultural amenities are also available such as theater performances, festivals, art galleries and other entertainment venues that give residents something to do in their spare time. Normal is truly a wonderful place where people can come together to work, play, learn and live! Mid-sized city complex - North-central Illinois, 100 miles southwest of Chicago.

State: Illinois
County: McLean County
Metro Area: Bloomington Metro Area
City: Normal

Zip Codes: 61761
Cost of Living: -17.7% lower
Time zone: Central Standard Time (CST)
Elevation: 662 ft above sea level

Normal, Il Housing Market

Least Expensive Homes	Homes Over 2,000 Sq. Ft.
Most Expensive Homes	Homes less than 10 yrs old
All Single Family Homes

Pros
Small-town atmosphere
Stable economy
Educated population

Cons
Entertainment
Air service
Unattractive landscape

What Bert Has To Say About Bloomington Metro Area

Bloomington and sister city Normal are a typical Illinois “prairie” town pair near the center of the state. However, the campuses of the Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University, with their college-town flavor, add a unique element. The troubled Mitsubishi Motors is the largest manufacturer, but the insurance, financial services and agricultural interests steady the economy. State Farm Insurance makes its headquarters in Bloomington and is by far the largest employer.

Highlights

ECONOMY

The unemployment rate in Normal is 4.4% (U.S. avg. is 6.0%). Recent job growth is Positive. Normal jobs have increased by 1.3%. More Economy

COST OF LIVING

Compared to the rest of the country, Normal's cost of living is 17.7% lower than the U.S. average. More Cost of Living or Compare Normal's Cost of Living

WEATHER & CLIMATE

September, June and May are the most pleasant months in Normal, while January and December are the least comfortable months. Today's Weather | Climate Averages

VOTING

In the last Presidential election, McLean county flipped Democratic, 50.3% to 46.3%. More Voting Stats

POPULATION

Normal's population is 53,446 people. Since 2020, it has had a population growth of 5.7%. Learn More...

TRANSPORTATION

Average Commute time is 17.8 minutes. The National Average is 26.4 minutes. Learn More...

REAL ESTATE

The median home cost in Normal is $209,800. Home appreciation the last 10 years has been 14.2%.

SCHOOLS

Normal public schools spend $11,223 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $12,383. There are about 16.3 students per teacher in Normal. More Education

Best Places to Live in Normal Rankings

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Housing Market in Normal

It's a good time to buy in Normal. Home Appreciation is up 14.2% in the last 12 months.
The median home price in Normal is $209,800.

Schools: See Local Schools

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Reviews for Normal 5 Reviews

An overall good place to live and work - 1/16/2022
While not a perfect town by any stretch of the imagination, I have lived in Normal my entire life and I have to say that there are FAR worse places one could live. The... Read More

Brian | Normal, IL | Reply | No Replies

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Quality of University - 10/12/2009
I would like to know more about the quality of education at Illinois State... Read More

antonio | Bloomingdale, IL | Reply | No Replies

Great place to raise a family - 5/18/2009
With relatively low crime, good schools and excellent access to higher education, Normal is a great place to raise a family. The city is trying to update its city center... Read More

Normal Guy | Normal, IL | Reply | No Replies

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ZIP CODES IN NORMAL, ILLINOIS

61761

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United States / Illinois / Bloomington Metro Area / McLean County / Normal / Zip Codes