Normal, IL Local Data & Statistics

State: IL

Total population: 53,569 Household income: $64,785 Rent: $965

Overview

Total population

53,569

Rent

$965

Year built

1989

Household income

$64,785

Per capita income

$36,168

Poverty rate

21.4%

Unemployment rate

3.3%

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

52.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Illinois

Total population

53,569

Adults over 25

26,777

Total households

20,387

Household size

2.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$64,785

Per capita income

$36,168

Poverty rate

21.4%

Unemployment rate

3.3%

Rent over 30% of income

52.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$965

Year built

1989

Households that rent

45.2%

Households that own

54.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.6

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

78%

Black

10.9%

Asian

4.3%

Two or more races

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

7.2%

Not Hispanic or Latino

92.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

86.6%

Commute time to work

16 mins

Work from home

13.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

18.6%

High school graduate or GED

18.9%

Some college or associate degree

9.6%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

52.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Normal, IL with: Illinois United States

Normal, IL

Total population53,569

Rent$965

Year built1989

Household income$64,785

Per capita income$36,168

Poverty rate21.4%

Unemployment rate3.3%

Illinois State

Total population12,694,798

Rent$1,274

Year built1971

Household income$83,390

Per capita income$46,406

Poverty rate11.8%

Unemployment rate5%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	TownNormal, IL	StateIllinois	CountryUnited States
Total population	53,569	12,694,798	334,922,499
Rent	$965	$1,274	$1,413
Year built	1989	1971	1980
Household income	$64,785	$83,390	$80,734
Per capita income	$36,168	$46,406	$44,673
Poverty rate	21.4%	11.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.3%	5%	4%

View the complete comparison of Normal, IL, Illinois and United States →

Summary for Normal, IL

Normal is located in Illinois.

Rent & Income

In Normal, the typical monthly rent is $965 and the typical household income is $64,785. Rent here is lower than in both Illinois and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 21.4%, which is higher than in both Illinois and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 45.2% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 52.1% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 52.9% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.3%, which is lower than both Illinois and the national rate.

Normal, IL — Rent vs Household Income

Normal, IL — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Normal, IL compares in Illinois (29 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$965	2 / 29	from lower rent	$845 – $1,885
Household income	$64,785	25 / 29	from higher income	$51,592 – $155,105
Poverty rate	21.4%	28 / 29	from lower poverty	4.4% – 25.9%
Unemployment rate	3.3%	1 / 29	from lower unemployment	3.3% – 6.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Illinois with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Normal, IL

Rent

Rent prices put Normal in 2nd place among 29 large communities in Illinois. Across Illinois, rents range from $845 in Decatur, IL up to $1,885 in Naperville, IL.

Household income

Normal ranks 25th among 29 large places for typical household income. Statewide values run from $51,592 in Decatur, IL to $155,105 in Naperville, IL.

Poverty rate

In poverty comparisons, Normal ranks 28th out of 29 large places. Statewide rates vary from 4.4% in Naperville, IL to 25.9% in Champaign, IL.

Unemployment rate

In terms of unemployment, Normal is ranked 1st out of 29 major areas. Across Illinois, rates go from 3.3% in Champaign, IL up to 6.2% in Waukegan, IL.

💰 Rent in Normal, IL (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $965 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Normal, IL

Annual Household Income: $64,785

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Normal, IL

Estimated Rate: 21.4%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Normal, IL

In Normal, IL, households that rent: 9,220 (45.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	9,220	45.2%
Owner-Occupied	11,167	54.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Normal, IL

In Normal, IL, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 4,808 (52.1%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	4,808	52.1%
Other renter households	4,412	47.9%
Total renter households	9,220	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Normal, IL

Less than High School: 4,980 people (18.6%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 5,058 people (18.9%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 2,567 people (9.6%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 14,172 people (52.9%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 26,777

📊 Unemployment Rate in Normal, IL

Estimated Rate: 3.3%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Spring Hill, TN53,585 Huntington Park, CA53,658 Wheaton, IL53,453 Pinellas Park, FL53,423 Elkhart, IN53,726 Diamond Bar, CA53,750 Galveston, TX53,348 Colton, CA53,798 Oak Park, IL53,315 Minnetonka, MN53,256

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.