Located in the lush rolling hills of south-central Indiana, Bloomington is the perfect combination of charm and culture, a city that's progressive but not pretentious, hip but also welcoming. In other words, it's exactly the type of place you want to visit.
With events like the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival, or the Fourth Street Festival of the Arts, Bloomington has a natural appeal to the arts and culture crowd. From fine dining to food trucks, Bloomington is a foodie city that offers more than 400 eateries. If you enjoy great outdoor adventures, take a drive to Lake Monroe, walk the B-Line trail, or enjoy one of the local or state parks, or the Hoosier National Forest. Bloomington also has things to do for the younger crowd, like Monroe County Public Library or the Wonderlab. And when you want a taste of the big city, you can make a short drive to Indianapolis, Chicago, or Louisville.
Discover the wonders of Bloomington at Visit Bloomington and Hoosier Life.
Relocation Resources
Bloomington isn't just a great place to visit, it's a wonderful place to live. Living in a university town has many advantages. The city is always abuzz with things to do! From opera to football -- there's something for everyone. Moving to a new place is never easy. Luckily there are many resources to help you get settled and looking forward to exploring your new city!;
- City of Bloomington Guides, Directories and Resources
- Community and Family Resources Directory - This guidebook, prepared by the Community and Family Resources Department, has many of the resources you'll need in order to feel settled and at home in Bloomington. From childcare resources to the phone numbers of city government offices, this guide is handy to have. (Click here for the quick reference guide version of this directory.)
- Bloomington and Monroe County Child Care & Referral Guide: The City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department has prepared this guide. It includes licensed child care homes and centers, registered ministries, preschool programs, and school age/summer care programs (includes information about Indiana University Bloomington Early Childhood Education Services).
- City of Bloomington web directory- The city of Bloomington website is also handy to have bookmarked. All city departments can be located from this site, including government, community, business, sustainability, arts and culture, parks and recreation, public safety, and transportation.
- Newcomer's Guide - This guide, created by the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention & Visitor's bureau, is a nice summary of all of the things a new resident would want and need to know about - from utilities information to a list of festivals. This guide also features a few residential areas in which one could live - as well as realtor information.
- Monroe County Community School Corporation - If you have kids of school age, this website will give you the names, information, and websites for the various schools, both private and public.
- City of Bloomington transportation - this website provides information on buses, parking, and bike trails in the area.
Housing
Indiana University
- The Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs - This office hosts a website to assist academic appointees with temporary housing needs, especially visitors, new appointees, and those taking leaves of absence.
- IU Real Estate- IU rents full time to faculty, staff, and students. If living close to campus is important, IU Real Estate is worth a look.
Extended Stay Hotels/Rooms
- Airbnb
- TownePlace Suites by Mariott
- Century Suites
- Homewood Suites by Hilton
- Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
Apartments and Homes