Located in the state of Illinois, Normal is a mid-sized city with a population of 54,534 people. According to the most recent Census, 82% of Normal residents are White, 10% Black and 4% Asian. With an average age of 24 years old, Normal could be a great place to live for young adults as this age is well below the national average. Normal is known to be family friendly as more than 76% of the population has already tied the knot. It might also be worth noting that 51% of residents also have children under the age of 18.
If you’re considering moving to any new city, it could be a very daunting task. However, it could also be a good experience if you are willing to get to know the town before actually living in Normal, Illinois. The best areas in Normal and in surrounding cities are easier to find when you are able to make informed decisions. Using data from amenities, cost of living, weather, employment, you will see a detailed breakdown of the most important information as well as comparisons to the Illinois and national averages.
The livability score in Normal is 66/100 and the city is ranked in the 45th percentile of all cities across America. For each of the livability categories, we see that Normal ranks very well for amenities (A+) and crime (B). There are some categories that Normal does not rank well for, including: weather (D), education (F) and housing (F). It might be worth taking a closer look to determine why.
Based on the proximity of local amenities like grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks, librairies, etc., Normal has received a higher than average score for its local amenities. If you’re planning on relocating and making this area your permanent home, it’s nice to know that there is an ample amount of amenities and things to do within walking distance or a short drive.
Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife and proximity to public transportation are all important factors to search for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Normal is real estate affordability. The median home price for Normal homes is $163,100, which is 6.7% lower than the Illinois average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Normal, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3, which is 0% lower than the Illinois average. Purchasing your new home can come with many financial benefits, some of which are more lucrative than others. Perhaps the most notable benefit could be the appreciation of your new home. Home appreciation rates are a good way to generate tax-free equity on a long term basis. The year over year appreciation rates in Normal were 2.2%, and the 5 year appreciation rates came in at 0.5%.
| Statistic | Normal | Illinois | National |
| Average one way commute | 17min | 29min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 76.2% | 73.4% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 8.8% | 8.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 2.6% | 9.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.5% | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 7.4% | 3.1% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 3.8% | 4.4% | 4.6% |
| Airports (within 30 miles of city center) | 0 (1) | 10 | 354 |
| Amtrak train stations (within 30 miles of city center) | 1 (1) | 32 | 711 |
| Walk | Bike | Compact | Car | S.U.V. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | |||||
| Duration | |||||
| Cost/Month |
Here are the best places to live in Illinois
Top 10 best public schools in Normal
These are the 10 most affordable cities in Illinois
10 best cities to buy a new house in Illinois