Normal ranked 10th best Midwest community for millennial job seekers

Posted on August 21, 2015
Uptown Normal
Normal was the top ranked city in Illinois. (WJBC file photo)

By Adam Studzinski

NORMAL – The Town of Normal has been named the 10th best place in the Midwest for millennial job seekers by nerdwallet.com.

The website looked at criteria such as the current millennial population, average income, and unemployment rate.

Mayor Chris Koos believed the ranking is partially the result of what the town has done in terms of redevelopment.

“(It’s) very much in step with what millennials want; a walkable, bikable environment, access to transit,” said Koos. “All those things are here and getting stronger in the community.”

Koos added the Bloomington-Normal market as a whole has a big demand for technology jobs.

“A lot of millennials are in those kind of jobs,” said Koos. “Plus, some things have happened in the community here, initiatives in the community, that are entrepreneurial in nature and call to people who want to start their own businesses and I think that has an effect.”

Normal was the highest ranked city in Illinois. Next closest was Lake in the Hills at 21. West Fargo, N.D. took the top spot.

The full list can be found here.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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