What are the schools like in Normal, IL?

Normal is served primarily by McLean County USD 5. The district operates 16 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.4:1.

What is the median household income in Normal?

The median household income in Normal, IL is $63,965 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.9%.

What is the weather like in Normal, IL?

Normal has an average high temperature of 33.4°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 6.5 inches.

Normal, IL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Normal, IL affordable or expensive?

Normal's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Normal is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $194,400 and the median rent is $924 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Normal, IL?

Normal has a violent crime rate of 329.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1550.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Normal, IL a Good Place to Live?

Normal is a mid-sized city of 52,920 in Illinois, with a median household income of $63,965 and a 3.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Normal stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Normal is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Normal city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.0

Normal's overall cost of living index is 92.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Normal costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Normal, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$194,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$924	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	55.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$63,965	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Normal's violent crime rate is 329.1 per 100,000 residents — 13% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

329.1 /100k

Property Crime

1550.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Normal is served primarily by McLean County USD 5. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Normal, IL	National Avg
School District	McLean County USD 5	—
Elementary Schools	16	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	53.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Normal sees average highs of 33.4°F in January and 86.0°F in July, with 38.5 inches of annual precipitation and 6.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Normal, IL
Average High — January	33.4°F
Average High — July	86.0°F
Annual Precipitation	38.5"
Annual Snowfall	6.5"

Demographics

Metric	Normal, IL	National Avg
Population	52,920	—
Median Age	25.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	78.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	12.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.6%	18.9%
Asian	3.9%	6.3%
Under 18	17.2%	22.2%
65 and over	11.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Bloomington, IL 3 mi Towanda, IL 6 mi Hudson, IL 6 mi Twin Grove, IL 6 mi Carlock, IL 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Normal

Normal, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

61761

Normal vs Other Cities

Normal, IL vs Bloomington, IL Normal, IL vs Towanda, IL Normal, IL vs Hudson, IL Normal, IL vs Twin Grove, IL Normal, IL vs Carlock, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Normal, IL affordable or expensive?

Normal's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Normal roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $194,400 and median rent is $924/month.

What is the crime rate in Normal, IL?

Normal's violent crime rate is 329.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1550.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Normal?

Public schools in Normal are operated by McLean County USD 5. The district has 16 elementary, 4 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 53.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Normal, IL a good place to live?

Normal, IL has a population of 52,920, a median household income of $63,965, and an unemployment rate of 3.9%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Normal?

Normal averages 33.4°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.5 inches with about 6.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Normal?

Normal, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61761.

What is the population of Normal?

The population of Normal, Illinois is 52,920 with a median age of 25.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Normal?

Key numbers for living in Normal: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $194,400, median household income $63,965, crime index 81 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Normal side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.