Bloomington city, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Bloomington city is a mid-sized community located in Illinois, within McLean County. The total population is 78,703. It ranks as the 12th most populous out of 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bloomington city is 36.0 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bloomington city is $75,449. This is 8% lower than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 4% lower. The poverty rate stands at 11.2%. This is 5% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. This is 56% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $198,800. Housing costs are 21% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Bloomington city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 61.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% lower than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Bloomington city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 70.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 9.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (7.3%) is well below the state average of 18.5%.

Education

48.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Bloomington city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 32% higher than the state rate of 37.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.7%. Notably, 16.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Bloomington city, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Illinois state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois. For official data, visit data.census.gov.