RANK #706 / 1001 NAT · #22 / 28 IL · POP 171,556
1YR FORECAST: +0.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +25%
McLean County, Illinois, the state's largest county by land area, is perhaps best known for Bloomington-Normal, a twin-city area that serves as a regional hub. Located in east-central Illinois, roughly two hours from both Chicago and St. Louis, the county offers a blend of urban amenities and rural landscapes. Commutes within the Bloomington-Normal area are generally manageable, and public transportation, including Connect Transit and SHOW BUS, serves both the urban and rural areas. The Constitution Trail provides miles of paved pathways for walking, running, and biking, while COMLARA Park and Evergreen Lake offer opportunities for camping, boating, fishing, and hiking amidst prairie and woodland habitats.
Life in McLean County offers a balance for families and professionals. The public schools in McLean County are highly rated, with several districts serving the area, including McLean County Unit District No. 5 and Bloomington School District No. 87. The local economy is diverse, with major employers in the insurance and higher education sectors. Recent economic developments include discussions around zoning for potential large-scale data centers, reflecting a focus on technology infrastructure. The county also faces challenges, such as a declining birth rate and childcare shortages, which impact the workforce.
McLean County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +2.6% YoY, population +0.4%, wages +3.8%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Harsh climate or flat terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing is fairly valued at 6.0x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Clinton Clean Energy Center License Renewal & Upgrades
Constellation
|
$370M | Operating |
|
Dawson Solar Project
Deriva Energy
|
$300M | Proposed |
|
Blooming Grove Storage Energy Center (BESS)
Invenergy, Inc.
|
$250M | Approved |
|
Bright Stalk Wind Farm
EDP Renewables North America
|
$205M | Operating |
|
Gibson City Energy Center – Solar 1
Earthrise Energy
|
$135M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 29/100, McLean County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $79,905 combined with job growth of -2.2% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
By national standards, McLean County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $208,400, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.38 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,009/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
McLean County's job market is contracting (-2.2% YoY) while population is roughly stable (+0.4% change). Home values are +2.6% over the past 12 months. Hiring headwinds without an offsetting exodus — residents are staying, but local employers are shedding payroll.
In significant numbers — 5.68% of McLean County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.