Good news: Livability.com has ranked Bloomington among the 25 best places to live in the Midwest. Bad news: The Hoosier city got beat by Bloomington, Minnesota; and Bloomington, Illinois.
Bloomington, Indiana, also got beat by Hoosier cities Carmel and Fishers, which ranked first and second.
Livability said it uses “nearly 100 data points” on matters including economy, public safety and cost of living to generate the ranking.
Bloomington, Indiana, ranked 22nd, of the 25 best places in the Midwest, and Livability listed among the city’s highlights its “youthful energy, team spirit and campus amenities” such as “free admission to see works by Picasso, Monet and more at the Eskenazi Museum of Art.”
The site, which introduced the city with a photo of the Sample Gates, also listed Indiana University’s research, a “fantastic culinary scene … a walkable downtown, and a shared love for arts and culture,” as some of the city’s positive aspects.
Other attributes include bike friendliness, great schools, Switchyard Park and trails through the city and through the nearby Hoosier National Forest.
Bloomington, Minnesota, ranked seventh, in part because of Great Wolf Lodge Waterpark, its dedication to diversity and inclusion as evidenced by a “full-time racial equality coordinator for the city,” “robust retail, health care and tourism sectors” and recreational opportunities related to lakes, golf courses, bike paths and ski slopes.
Bloomington, Illinois, beat its Hoosier rival, because of “diverse cultural programming, a sense of history, delicious restaurants, fun boutiques and lively nightlife.
“Add to that an affordable cost of living, with a median home value of about $228,604 and an emphasis on sustainability, which is becoming increasingly attractive to newcomers,” the site wrote.
In Bloomington, Indiana, the median sales price for homes in the last three months was $331,663, up 11% from the same period in 2023.
Carmel, Indiana, ranked first “due to its thriving economy, award-winning schools and excellent health care options, which translate into plentiful job opportunities.” Fishers ranked second because of high-quality health care, great schools, amenities for young professionals and families as well as “an incredibly low crime rate.”
Livability, according to its website, “has worked with hundreds of communities developing content marketing programs showcasing why they are a great place to live with one simple goal: help cities attract and retain residents and businesses.”
Boris Ladwig can be reached at bladwig@heraldt.com.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington among ‘best places to live’ — behind two other Bloomingtons
