Bloomington named on list of most affordable cities

Downtown Bloomington
Downtown Bloomington. (Zach Dietmeier/WJBC)

By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – The city of Bloomington is one of the 10 most affordable cities to live in, according to Livability.com.

The website looked at a variety of factors, including home prices, average income and the city’s entertainment options.

“When you take a look at now, from the millennials to the baby boomers, what do you have on both sides of that family-age spectrum?” McLean County Chamber of Commerce President Charlie Moore asked WJBC’s Terry James. “We take a look at more than 40 parks or homes at $150,000 or less and the opportunity for millennials to find that first home purchase or for those looking to downsize, we do have that variety.”

Moore said the combined marketing effort between Bloomington and Normal, called BN Advantage, helps keep the area competitive with other cities.

Bloomington was number 10 on Livability.com’s list. Huntsville, Ala. took the top spot while Bismarck, N.D. was number two.

http://www.livability.com/top-10/families/best-affordable-places-to-live/2016/al/huntsville

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…