This Indiana city has been named one of the 100 best places to live

Bloomington has been recognized as one of the best places to live in America, based on criteria including transportation, health and education.

“If you go, you get it,” Livability writes on its website. “Everyone who visits Bloomington, IN, raves about the lush landscape, global dining options, craft brewery scene and sheer variety of arts and activities.”

Livability, a marketing consultant, produced the ranking based on eight broad categories, including economy, housing/cost of living and safety. It used sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, Federal Reserve and U.S. Postal Service. The ranking includes consideration of rent and home prices relative to incomes. You can find more about the methodology here: livability.com/methodology-ranking-criteria/

Bloomington got its highest scores in education, economy and civics. The lowest were in demographics, infrastructure and housing.

Livability also noted the city’s “charming courthouse square filled with local shops, boutiques and cafes. Add in friendly neighbors, and it’s no wonder Bloomington is one of the best places to live in the U.S."

According to Livability, Bloomington “has a youthful vibe — and a rabid Hoosier fan base that transcends all age groups.” The website also mentions the importance of the university and major employers to research and innovation.

“Best of all, Bloomington’s urban/suburban atmosphere allows residents to enjoy all the city amenities while being surrounded by gorgeous lakes, parks and forests,” the website reads.

One of the best: Bloomington trail named among USA Today's top 10 in U.S.

The site also highlights more than 200 miles of trails, “from paved city paths to trails through the Hoosier National Forest,” and free activities, such as the Eskenazi Museum of Art and the IU campus itself, “which is often cited as one of the prettiest in the country.

“Be sure to wear your walking shoes,” the website advises, “the campus is nearly 2,000 acres.”

Amanda Ellis, Livability.com editor-in-chief, said in a news release that the ranking “is a data-driven collection of what we consider to be the best small to mid-sized places to live in. It’s the only list out there truly honing in on affordability, lauding the amazing cities across the country other than our large U.S. metros.”

The 100 best cities represent the top 5% of U.S. cities with populations in the eligible population range of 75,000 to 500,000, according to Livability.

Mike McAfee, executive director of Visit Bloomington, said, "It's nice to be included in those lists."

"It’s nice to be included in those lists," he said via email. "We usually show up consistently on some of the lists for best college towns, small towns, places to retire, and a few others. We do share some of those accolades on our website that we update every few years. I think those lists can have some influence on tourism decisions when the right audience sees them."

Only two other Indiana cities made the list this year: Carmel and Fishers.

Boris Ladwig can be reached at bladwig@heraldt.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington named one of the best 100 places to live. Here's why.