About Bloomington

Warm + Welcoming

Once called “a movie set of a town” by Jon Stewart, Bloomington, is a remarkable place to study and live, offering a rich array of activities for people with a broad interest in the world. Home to a diverse and international population, Bloomington offers a peaceful, community-minded way of life, with welcoming residents and cultural offerings not often found in cities of its size.

The accolades are many. Bloomington was chosen by Edward B. Fiske, former education editor of the New York Times, as one of the top ten college towns in the U.S., citing its “rich mixture of atmospherics and academia.” USA Today named it “one of the top ten places for rich campus culture.” Rand McNally selected Bloomington as one of the eight most desirable places to live in the United States, based on economy, personal safety, climate, housing, services, and leisure activities.

And it is affordable: periodic surveys conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association have shown that the cost of living in Bloomington is consistently at or below the national average.

Learn about our exciting small city

LGBTQ community resources