Bloomington is the county seat of Monroe County in the central part of the United States– state of Indiana. It is Indiana’s seventh-largest city and the fourth-largest city outside of the Indianapolis metropolitan area. Bloomington is recognized as the “Gateway to Scenic Southern Indiana,” according to the Monroe County History Center. Bloomington was founded in 1818 by a group of settlers from Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and Virginia who were so taken by “a haven of flowers” that they named it after themselves.
Bloomington is one of Indiana’s most populous cities. It’s a well-known college town that’s home to the famed Indiana University and a foodie haven. Bloomington’s residents can be described as intelligent and bright. According to Lumosity, the city is the seventh smartest in America. The University of Indiana at Bloomington is noted for producing more Honors students than other cities.
Bloomington, Indiana Housing Prices
One of the most significant components of the cost of living is housing. Bloomington’s median house value is $182,100, which is less than the national median of $204,900. A home built in 1939 or before is worth $182,100, whereas a home built in 2014 or later is worth $450,000.
Renting might be a less expensive alternative to buying a property. In Bloomington, 65.40 percent of occupied residences are rented, which is higher than the national renter rate of 36.2 percent. Bloomington renters spend an average of $887 per month on housing, which is higher than the national median of $1,023 per month.
Aside from house value, one of the most important factors of housing affordability is local income. While the average U.S. home costs 3.4 times the $60,293 median household income, housing affordability ratios range from around 1.0 in the least costly locations to more than 10.0 in the most expensive markets. The median household income in Bloomington is $34,435, which is 5.3 times the median home value.
Bloomington, Indiana Transportation Costs
Transportation costs can also add significantly to the cost of living. 71.80 percent of Bloomington commuters drive to work, compared to 85.5 percent nationally. An estimated 19.80 percent of workers travel to jobs outside of Bloomington, a lower proportion than the 43.7 percent of commuters nationwide who live and work in different locations.
Bloomington’s average travel time is 16.9 minutes, compared to the national average commuting time of 26.6 minutes. Taking into account the cost of gas, public transportation, and auto maintenance, the EPI estimates that a single individual in Bloomington spends $9,579 on transportation per year, which is around the same as the national average of $9,760.
Bloomington, Indiana Health Care Costs
Out-of-pocket health care expenditures and insurance premiums — assuming at least a basic level of health insurance coverage — are slightly cheaper in Bloomington than they are nationally, but they are in line with Indiana as a whole.
The average healthcare expenditure for a single adult residing in the area is $4,026 per year, compared to $3,836 in Indiana and $4,266 nationally.
- Bloomington’s healthcare costs are 12% cheaper than the national average.
- Doctor’s Appology $97.54
- Visit to the Dentist $83.79
- $91.39 Optometrist Visit
- Prescription Drug $388.52
- $53.37 Veterinary Visit
- Bloomington, Indiana Child Care Costs
Child care costs thousands of dollars per year for families with children. The average yearly cost of child care in Bloomington for two children — one 4-year-old and one 8-year-old — is $19,852, which is nearly $2,900 more than the equivalent average of $16,924 in Indiana. Meanwhile, childcare costs for two children in the United States average $15,853 per year.
Bloomington, Indiana Food Prices
Food is another daily expense that has a substantial impact on overall living costs. According to data from the United States Department of Agriculture, the cost of food varies from city to city and town to town.
A single adult in Bloomington spends an average of $3,175 on food each year, while a family of four spends $9,168. In comparison, the average yearly food expenditure in Indiana and the United States for a single adult is $2,872 and $3,240, respectively, and $8,295 and $9,354 for a family of four. These figures are based on a nutritionally appropriate diet of groceries purchased for at-home cooking.
Bloomington, Indiana Utility Costs
Both owning and renting have utility costs. Basic utilities such as energy and telecommunications are included in these fees. Energy bills in Bloomington average roughly $150.76 per month.
- Energy $150.76
- Phone \s $186.33
Bloomington, Indiana Taxes
Taxes are one of the few expenses that vary greatly from city to city and town to town. After accounting for both state and federal income taxes, as well as Social Security contributions and Medicare payroll taxes, the average adult working in Bloomington, Indiana pays $5,894 per year — a fairly high figure when compared to the statewide average of $5,366.
It’s worth noting that these figures exclude other common taxes like property, sales, and excise taxes. Taking these taxes into account and ignoring federal taxes, Bloomington residents live in a state with a low average tax burden. Indiana’s per capita state tax collections total $2,899 per year, compared to the national average of $3,151.
Why You Should Move to Bloomington?
If You Are a Fan of Nature
Southern Indiana’s geography is far more diversified and forested than the northern half of the state, giving some of the state’s most magnificent panoramas and tough trails. Bloomington’s Hoosier National Forest, with 200,000 acres of undulating hills, lush forests, and clear lakes, is an excellent site for camping, hiking, biking, and equestrian riding. Take a drive or stroll to adjacent Brown County State Park in the fall, which is known for the splendor of its autumn leaves. Bloomington’s numerous nature preserves and parks will also appeal to you. If being outside beneath the open sky and admiring everything that nature has to offer is your idea of heaven, Bloomington is the place to be.
If You Want a Small-Town Feeling
Bloomington is Indiana’s seventh-largest city, just large enough to give lots of entertainment and economic possibilities while being small enough to retain a Midwestern small-town atmosphere. Bloomington also has a plethora of local businesses such as restaurants, bars, galleries, and shops. In fact, it was named to Forbes’ 2017 list of the Best Small Places for Business and Careers. If shopping locally is essential to you, Bloomington has everything you need right in your own backyard.
The cost of clothes tell you how much more or less money you’ll need in a new place to buy essential goods like jeans, shirts, and trousers. A men’s shirt costs roughly $46.65 in this country. A pair of women’s slacks, on the other hand, will cost you roughly $36.93.
Shirt for men $46.65
Slacks for women $36.93
Jeans for boys $30.74
The cost of amusement and daily services is determined by the most prevalent expenses in each category. A cinema ticket in Bloomington should cost roughly $11.03 per month. In terms of personal services, a haircut typically costs $21.96, while dry cleaning costs around $13.37.
$11.03 for a movie ticket
Yoga $17.21
Newspaper $10.95
Haircut $21.96
$38.98 for a beauty salon
$13.37 for dry cleaning
If You Are a Beer or Wine Enthusiast
Do you like to unwind with a craft beer or a glass of wine at the end of the day? Oliver Winery, a producer of award-winning wines and ciders and a local favorite (and 18-state distributor), is located in Bloomington. To learn more about the winemaking process, you can take a tour of their facility and visit their tasting room. If you’d rather check out what’s on tap at the local brewery, swing by the Upland Brewing Co. for a pint. Despite the fact that they operate multiple restaurants and pubs throughout central and southern Indiana, the production brewery is located in Bloomington. And these are only the tip of the iceberg—the Bloomington area is home to a plethora of small wineries and breweries.
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)12.00 $ 9.99-28.88
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) 1.43 $ 1.43-2.86
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) 2.00 $
Festivals, Events, or Movie Tickets
Bloomington hosts a number of exciting annual events, including Limestone Month in June, which allows for a variety of smaller events, such as the Limestone Comedy Festival, which is held at the Comedy Attic, one of the best comedy clubs in the country, and whose previous guests have included Kevin Smith, Patton Oswald, Tig Notaro, and Garofalo. The Lotus World Music and Art Celebration in September is a colorful downtown street festival filled with world music. The Taste of Bloomington Festival features 40 local eateries and two live music stages for a total of 10-15,000 attendees.
The cost of your ticket will vary depending on the event center and the location of your seat. An event at Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts costs $79.89 on average. Seats further away from the field or court and higher in the stands are always the most cheap, with tickets starting at $34.00. A seat with a premium view of the event might cost up to $444.00 for a seat close to the field.
12.00 $ for a single seat in a movie theatre showing an international release.
Benefits to the University Community
“Lifelong learners may have a great time here,” Erdmann explains. And she isn’t only talking about the students and instructors. Rather, having a large university benefits everyone, including “great lecture series across fields – we recently had Secretary of State John Kerry; films, performances, and all kinds of things that allow locals to extend their views.” It’s a fantastic option for continued education.”
Among its many attractions are the Kinsey Institute, the Maurer School of Law, and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
Public Institution
Indiana University—Bloomington is a public university that was established in 1820. It boasts a total undergraduate enrollment of 32,986 students (fall 2020), a city setting, and a campus area of 1,944 acres. The academic calendar is semester-based. Indiana University—Bloomington is ranked #68 in National Universities in the Best Colleges 2022 edition. It charges $11,334 for in-state tuition and fees and $38,354 for out-of-state tuition and fees.
Arts, Museums and Libraries
Aside from the festivals described above, the city has a booming lively arts community.
That means there will be plenty of galleries and venues in town. The Art Museum at Indiana University houses a 40,000-piece collection of art from every period in history. Concerts, operas, ballets, and other performances are available at the University’s Jacobs School of Music. The University auditorium conducts traveling shows, and the independent Bloomington Playwrights Project concentrates only on new plays, whilst the Cardinal Theatre Company focuses on classics. The city’s commitment to public art, which can be found almost everywhere, is noteworthy.
Bloomington is home to the Lilly Library, which houses a private Abraham Lincoln collection, originals by Jack Kerouac and Kurt Vonnegut, children’s books, and cookbooks, among other things. There is no admission fee. The Wonder Lab Museum of Science, Health, and Technology offer a fantastic learning experience for both children and adults. The excellent School of Education at Indiana University ensures that local schools retain high standards.
-The Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University Bloomington is free to the public.
-Overdue penalties are no longer charged at the Bloomington Public Library (BPL) or the Normal Public Library (NPL). All overdue fees will be waived for all patrons prior to Wednesday.
In any case, fine revenue has been declining at both libraries. Bloomington currently charges roughly $31,000 per year, while Normal charges $15,030.
Sports
The classic 1979 film Breaking Away portrays the University’s famous Little 500 cycling race, which is held each April. Fans of sports can also take advantage of the University’s famed basketball program, which has won five national championships. The men’s soccer squad has also won eight national championships. From track to football, there is a myriad of both men’s and women’s sports to satisfy fandom requirements.
Fitness Center, 1 Adult Monthly Fee 50.00 $ 20.00-67.00
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) 17.50 $ 0.00-35.00
What Is the Significance of the Name Bloomington-Normal?
Because of the establishment of a specific sort of school in the area, the town’s name was changed from North Bloomington to Normal in 1865. It all began in 1857, when Governor William Bissell signed legislation authorizing the establishment of a “normal school.” French teaching schools influenced this educational system.
Is It Expensive to Live In Bloomington, Indiana?
Bloomington, Indiana has a cheaper cost of living than the national average by 4%. The cost of living in any place might vary depending on factors such as your occupation, the average pay in that area, and the real estate market in that area.
Conclusion
So, with this, we, wrap up our post and believe that you have found enough information about what does it costs to live in Bloomington, and also found the interesting reasons why you should Move there. Make your plans, accordingly.
