Bloomington
The Bloomington, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of two counties (Monroe and Owen) in south-central Indiana.* The city of Bloomington in Monroe County is the home of the flagship campus of Indiana University, and is the area's principal municipality and its anchor.
* MSAs are defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.Quick Stats
Click on any quick stat to view details and a comparison table.
The Bloomington Futurecast Event
Shreve Hall, Ivy Tech
200 Daniels Way,
Bloomington, IN 47404
Help us continue providing public data access by donating to the IBRC!
Donate »Potential Speakers at the Bloomington Futurecast Event
Join us to discuss how the changing economic environment will affect the local region, Indiana and the nation in the coming year.
This event is co-hosted by the Bloomington Rotary Club, the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, the IBRC and the Kelley School of Business.
What did we say last year about the Bloomington region?
Published December 2025
Bloomington unemployment fell from 3.9% to 3.4% between August 2024 and August 2025. Private business growth helped Bloomington sustain unemployment below the state and national rates and counteract reduced federal and state support for Indiana University. Private business establishments in Monroe County grew 4.6% from 3,318 in 2024 Q1 to 3,471 in 2025 Q1, compared to 2.8% statewide and 2% nationwide.
Low wages and expensive housing are historical barriers to economic development in Bloomington. In August 2025, the average worker in the Bloomington metropolitan area earned 11.9% less than the average Hoosier for an hour of work. The average house in Bloomington listed at a price 18.1% higher than the average house in Indiana.
Economic difficulties encountered by the Bloomington region in 2025 will continue in 2026. Bloomington’s recent bump in commercial activity, though, will provide momentum that diversifies sources of economic expansion. Whereas the nation is expected to grow 1.8% and the state 1.0% in 2026, the Bloomington metropolitan area is expected to grow between zero and 0.5%. Trends suggest a rise in unemployment to 4.0% in Bloomington.
Read the full Bloomington article »
Each year in December, the Indiana Business Research Center publishes a special Outlook edition of the Indiana Business Review.
Published continuously since 1926, the Indiana Business Review is a quarterly publication that provides analysis and insight on economic and demographic issues.