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Ah, there are so many convenient jokes to be made about Normal, IL, but it all just seems a bit overplayed. To be honest, it’s just a normal town full of normal people living normal lives (Hey, see what we did there? We used the name of the place in the- ah, you’ll get it.).
Normal is actually considered the younger sibling of nearby Bloomington
View Normal City GuideAh, there are so many convenient jokes to be made about Normal, IL, but it all just seems a bit overplayed. To be honest, it’s just a normal town full of normal people living normal lives (Hey, see what we did there? We used the name of the place in the- ah, you’ll get it.).
Normal is actually considered the younger sibling of nearby Bloomington
Ah, there are so many convenient jokes to be made about Normal, IL, but it all just seems a bit overplayed. To be honest, it’s just a normal town full of normal people living normal lives (Hey, see what we did there? We used the name of the place in the- ah, you’ll get it.).
Normal is actually considered the younger sibling of nearby Bloomington. It originally went by the name of North Bloomington, and today, the two are often referred to together as Bloomington-Normal, B-N, the twin cities, or (our personal favorite) Blo-No. But don’t go thinking that Normal is an insignificant city, overshadowed by its neighbors. Normal is anything but. It’s home to Illinois State University, the oldest public university in Illinois, with one of the most popular teaching schools in the country, as well as multiple smaller college campuses. It’s also the birthplace of the elusive Steak ‘n’ Shake restaurant (circa 1934), and the location of Mitsubishi’s only North American factory. Overall, it’s just a safe little city with a very smart, mostly young population, and a silly name.
Now that you’re a little more familiar with Normal, let’s take a look at the housing environment. Almost half of Normal residents rent their living quarters, which makes for a pretty decent amount of options available.
The average Normal apartment is decently sized, decently priced, and moderately aged. “Standard” would be a good word to describe most of the housing you’ll find – not ultra-characteristic vintage flats, and not high-class luxury, but right smack in-between. Most available apartments are in small or mid-size complexes, with a few larger complexes here and there, and rental houses and duplexes are also pretty plentiful. The more house-like your rental, the more amenities you’re likely to have (a yard, ample parking, nicer appliances, in-unit laundry), but this all varies place-to-place. Prices will also vary depending on the area you’re looking in, but rarely stray over $1000 a month. Rental homes, in most cases, will run just over $1000 a month.
In apartments, it’s not difficult to find many or all utilities included in your rent, regardless of price or style. In houses, this is less common. As for extras, expect many companies and landlords to require proof of employment, financial information, and application fees for background or credit checks. Whether or not pets are allowed, and whether or not they require a fee, depends on the apartment.
While prices tend to be pretty steady, there are some areas that’ll definitely be cheaper than others. Slightly more expensive “condominium quality” places will be closer to downtown, and expect cheaper prices for older apartments near the college campus areas. Locals recommend the North side of Normal if you’re looking for a more suburban vibe.
Pad your apartment hunt with this valuable information, or just use it to impress your friends. Here are some essential facts about Normal, IL.
Education is a big thing in Normal. Being a college town, there’s a lot of diversity and encouragement for higher education, and between Bloomington and Normal, Normal is usually regarded as having the better school system. ISU has two highly sought-after 1000-student teaching laboratory schools in Normal (University High and the Thomas Metcalf school), in which teaching students practice their craft. The population has an above-average level of education, with almost half of its citizens holding a four-year degree.
A lot of people think small-town life is boring, but Normal has some pretty interesting recreation to offer. Its downtown area, known as “Uptown Normal,” is very busy and college-oriented. The place is full of restaurants and bars, mostly, but has some nearby museums, a planetarium, and a historic Art Deco theatre that screens a variety of classic and indie films to tickle your culture fancy, as well. Outside of the uptown-downtown area, the Bloomington-Normal Constitution Trail is a popular destination for pedestrians, cyclists, skaters, skiers, and other bipedal exercisers. Its 24 miles of trails cover multiple areas of the city, from picturesque nature havens to residential neighborhoods and important downtown areas.
For those not so inclined to bike or hike, Bloomington and Normal share the aptly named Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System, which provides the area with 11 buses, as well as paratransit and ISU campus shuttles. For a longer commute, Bloomington and Normal also share the busiest Amtrak station in Illinois (outside of Chicago, that is), which can get you to St. Louis, MO or Chicago (and the many places in between) in about two and a half hours.
Normal is a far more interesting place than the name might suggest. Of Central Illinois’ “twin cities,” it’s the smaller, safer, younger half that’s home to both families and college students, alike. Whether or not it will be your home, too, is entirely up to you.
