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Bloomington, Indiana
Tucked in Southern Indiana, Bloomington Boasts a Thriving Downtown and a Bounty of Things to Do, From Fun Festivals and Wine Tasting to Lively Athletic Events
Cost of Living: Below the National Average
Bloomington (population 80,000) sits among wooded, gently rolling hills in southern Indiana and is a quintessential college town, home to the beautiful flagship campus of Indiana University (population 49,000). Founded in 1818 as a farming community, this affable city has spent time as a mill town, producing limestone and timber products, but it has always been a center of education (IU was founded in 1820). It has a young population thanks to the number of students, but it also has a lot to offer retirees and anyone else seeking a flourishing Midwestern city brimming with festivals, sporting events, restaurants, theater and music.
In fact, Bloomington provides more cultural and recreational diversity than many cities twice its size and does so with a unique combination of sophistication and Midwestern matter of factness. Of the population, 21% is age 45 or better. Residents lean to the left politically, and 40% hold a college degree. The crime rate meets the national average, and the cost of living is below the national average.
Bloomington boasts a thriving downtown with art galleries, shops, coffeehouses, eateries, bookstores and more. IDADA sponsors a Friday art walk throughout the year. There are dozens and dozens of restaurants, serving everything from French cuisine to Moroccan delicacies, and the city has been named one of the fastest growing destinations in the country for foodies and wine connoisseurs. Oliver Winery is a particular favorite, serving 30 award-winning wines in a 2,400 sq. ft. tasting room.
Festivals and events abound. The Bloomington Craft Beer Festival celebrates great local beer. The winter Week of Chocolate undertakes the arduous task of determining which local restaurants serve the best desserts. The Bloomington Handmade Market is a juried craft show with glass, fiber and pottery artists. The Street Festival of the Arts and Crafts happens every Labor day. The Summer Garden Walk takes participants on a tour of six unique private gardens. The Arts Fair on the Square is in its 35th year. The PRIDE Film Festival presents gay and lesbian film productions. The Bloomington Wine and Food Festival showcases 200 wines from around the country. The Little 500 is a 200-lap bicycle race made famous in the 1979 movie Breaking Away.
The theater and music scene is alive and well, too. The Lotus World Music and Arts Festival is a two-day event that attracts musicians from all over world. The Summer Music Festival brings nationally known musicians to town for a series of concerts and oratorios. The Bloomington Symphony has been going strong for nearly 50 years. The Cardinal Stage Company and the Bloomington Playwrights Project have robust seasons.
Many of Bloomington's events are related to the University, which dominates much of life here and is the heart and soul of the city. The campus itself is green and vast, humming with a quiet energy, and it is often ranked as one of the prettiest college campuses in the country. Strolling along meandering paths through colorful gardens and mature, wooded grounds makes for a wonderful afternoon getaway.
Bloomington, Indiana
The IU Musical Arts Center is considered one of the finest music schools in the world and presents concerts and recitals, often with internationally recognized guest performers, nearly daily throughout the year. It also has the longest running opera season in the western hemisphere. The spectacular IU Art Museum was designed by I. M. Pei and has a permanent 25,000 piece collection, including works from Rodin, Monet and Picasso.
The huge IU Auditorium Theater, with 3,154 seats, hosts numerous dance productions, ballet performances and touring Broadway shows. The Lilly Library houses some of the world's rarest books and manuscripts, including a Gutenberg Bible. IU's Department of Theater and Drama enjoys an excellent reputation and presents dramatic productions throughout the year.
And shopping, while not world class, is more than adequate, with College Mall being the largest shopping venue with 80 stores and restaurants. There is also a Wal-Mart Supercenter. The Bloomington Farmers' Market runs from April through November.
The Bloomington Public Library opened in 1857 and has public computers with Internet access, free wi-fi, book discussions, lectures, author-signings, book sales, workshops, movie nights, demonstrations, craft classes and much more. And IU's library system is extensive, with nearly 8 million books and 30 branches across campus. Indiana residents have access to the facilities but with limits.
And, of course, there is Big Ten Hoosier football and basketball, the latter of which is nearly a religious experience. For golfers, the IU golf course and seven other courses are open 365 days a year. The Monroe County YMCA has programs for the city's mature demographic, including senior swim times, Prime Time Plus exercise classes and an arthritis aquatic program. An extensive trail system runs through town and is usually busy with bicyclists and walkers.
Outside of town, two forests (Hoosier National Forest and Morgan-Monroe State Forest), three nearby lakes (Monroe Lake, Lake Lemon and Griffy Lake), two nature preserves and three recreation areas provide plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure.
Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital has 305 beds and is accredited by the Joint Commission. It is award winning for excellence in cardiac surgery, joint replacement and spine surgery, and it has a number of resources specifically for seniors, including free health seminars, driving evaluations and balance and fall prevention clinics. For military retirees, Bloomington has a VA outpatient clinic, but the nearest VA hospital is in Indianapolis, 50 miles away.
The Area 10 Agency on Aging in Bloomington offers fitness classes at the Endwright Center and provides a wide array of programs, including art classes, meals, homemaker assistance, minor home repairs, food delivery and prescription drug pick up. It also manages Rural Transit bus services within Monroe County. The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is very active and helps older adults find a variety of volunteer opportunities, including working with the Tivoli Theater, the farmers' market, the food bank and more. The Twin Lakes Recreation Center has a SilverSneakers fitness program. AARP also has a Bloomington chapter.
This is a pedestrian-friendly and bicycle-friendly city and has an efficient public transportation system, Bloomington Transit. BT Access is a curb to curb van service, but an application is required.
Temperatures can reach the mid-80s to low- 90s during the summer, and winter temperatures dip into the 20s, topping out in the 40s. On average, the city receives 40 inches of rain and 14 inches of snow each year. On the comfort index, a combination of temperature and humidity, Bloomington comes in below the national average. The sun shines 188 days of the year.
Bloomington does have some drawbacks. Indiana University has a reputation as a party school, but school officials have been cracking down, particularly on fraternities, in the last few years. Traffic congestion can be a problem, particularly when students return each fall and IU sporting events begin. Indiana is "tornado-central," and Bloomington's tornado risk is 190% higher than the national average. The poverty rate is well above the national average, but much of this is attributed to the large student population. Still, panhandlers are seen around town.
Despite these downsides, Bloomington's welcoming atmosphere, youthful vibe and plethora of cultural offerings make it hard to resist. While Indiana is often overlooked as a place to retire, Bloomington has a lot offer and should be on the list of anyone seeking to retire in a lively, reasonably priced Midwestern city.
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