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Living in
Normal.
About
Life in Normal
Living in Normal means being part of a college town that's undergoing real economic transformation. Rivian's arrival brought genuine change and investment, but it's worth understanding that this is still a place adjusting to that shift rather than fully defined by it. Housing is reasonably affordable compared to many Illinois communities—median home values around $214k and rents near $965—though that's shifting as the town develops.
Normal at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
25.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
21.4%
Foreign-Born
8.1%
Broadband Internet
86.8%
of households
Population Growth
+0.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.1% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Normal: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Normal, the largest foreign-born group is from India (20.1%), and 4.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
16.1%
of residents
65 and Older
12.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
21.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.5%
of households
Married Couples
36.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.27
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 24% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Normal
In Normal, rent runs 24% below the IL average, and home values are 19% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
32.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,749
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
54.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1989
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $269,905 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below IL average
Unemployment in Normal
Unemployment in Normal is 0.6 percentage points lower than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Normal Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.5 min avg
How Normal residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Normal, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 87% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal (BMI)
Regional airport · few flights159k passengers boarded in 2025
- 109 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 116 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 12% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Normal runs 12% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
290.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,639.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Normal Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 21 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
86.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
McLean County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In McLean County, which includes Normal, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 21 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6,000 |
| 2022 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 13 | Flash Flood | $12.0M |
| 2020 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.2M |
| 2019 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $70,000 |
| 2018 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $350,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
McLean County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in McLean County, which includes Normal, is typically good — 241 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
241
per year
Moderate Days
120
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
McLean County, county-wide
Climate85°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Normal has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
37°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.5"
Annual Snowfall
6.5"
Hot Days/Year
26
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
133
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
96
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 16°F | 2.43" |
| Feb | 38°F | 19°F | 1.99" |
| Mar | 50°F | 28°F | 2.61" |
| Apr | 63°F | 38°F | 3.72" |
| May | 74°F | 50°F | 4.81" |
| Jun | 83°F | 60°F | 4.08" |
| Jul | 86°F | 63°F | 4.12" |
| Aug | 84°F | 61°F | 3.83" |
| Sep | 79°F | 53°F | 3.22" |
| Oct | 66°F | 42°F | 3.48" |
| Nov | 50°F | 31°F | 2.80" |
| Dec | 38°F | 21°F | 2.30" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Normal
Normal has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Carle Bromenn Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
St Joseph Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.3 mi away · Bloomington
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Normal
Normal's student/teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 52.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
19
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
52.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Normal
Public · 4-year · 19,057 students · in-state tuition $16,152 · 71% graduate · median earnings $67,557 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,582 students · in-state tuition $59,430 · 82% graduate · median earnings $76,193 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument, 60 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Normal
Normal has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument (60 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
60 mi awayLincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
61 mi awayPublic Libraries in Normal
Normal Public Library
206 West College Avenue, Normal
Cities Near Normal
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Normal?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Normal FAQ
Is Normal, Illinois affordable?⌄
Normal's median rent is $965/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $64,785/year. Median home value is $213,600.
Is Normal, Illinois safe?⌄
Normal's violent crime rate was 290 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1639 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Normal, Illinois?⌄
Normal has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Normal, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Normal is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $965/month and median household income is $64,785/year. The median home value is $213,600. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Normal, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Normal is 17 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from