Broad Ripple Village
This neighborhood attracts a younger, hipper, trendier crowd of professionals and recent college graduates. It has a lively mix of bars, shopping, and restaurants, all of which makes for one of the best nightlife scenes of the city.
Butler-Tarkington
Located farther north of downtown, this area is known for attractive residential architecture and Butler University, a private liberal arts college with a typical enrollment of around 4,100 students. The university offers a wide range of cultural events open to the public. This neighborhood is also noted for how well it handled integration during times of racial tension as blacks began moving into the area in the 1950s and 1960s.
Clermont
Just a few miles from downtown, you can’t beat this neighborhood if you want the resources of a big city close by but also are a nature lover. Clermont is on the banks for Eagle Creek Reservoir, with Eagle Creek Park nearby as well. Families are attracted to this are because it’s known to have one of the best schools in the city—Ben Davis High School. Homes are also reasonably priced in this community.
Cottage Home
The many “cottage-style” frame homes with strong Victorian influences in this neighborhood have made many a rehab dream come true in this historic Indy neighborhood. After declining through the 1960s and 1970s, today this community is diverse and flourishing. Many of the charming homes in this area feature spindle-work porches, turned posts, gable ornaments, variegated and fishscale shingling, and gingerbread trim.
Fountain Square
As a designated cultural district just south of the downtown district, there are larger homes here for those who want to carve out some studio space for art. Hipsters go for the lofts created in former warehouse and factory buildings. It’s one of the trendiest areas of the city, and is also the city’s first commercial historic district, with a rich legacy of commercial activity that continues today.
Homecroft
This neighborhood in southern Indianapolis is experiencing rapid growth and is one of the most significant commercial centers south of downtown. Homes are being snatched up at a high rate, so those who want to invest in a high-growth area will need to do so sooner than later. Families also love the strong school performance here, making Homecroft one of the best suburbs not just of Indianapolis, but all of the Midwest.
Lockerbie Square
Located just slightly north of Indy’s central downtown area, Lockerbie Square has been redeveloping rapidly. It’s smaller frame houses are easy to renovate, making it a popular choice for younger singles and new families, including LGBTQ couples. Setting up home in this neighborhood is a good investment as revitalization continues to push property values up.
Lockerbie Square
Located just slightly north of Indy’s central downtown area, Lockerbie Square has been redeveloping rapidly. It’s smaller frame houses are easy to renovate, making it a popular choice for younger singles and new families, including LGBTQ couples. Setting up home in this neighborhood is a good investment as revitalization continues to push property values up.
Old Northside
Many of the elegant Victorian mansions in this neighborhood were subdivided into apartments decades ago, but lots of people have been coming in on the rehab bandwagon to give these homes new life. This neighborhood received a historic designation in the late 1970s and features three lovely parks: Great Oak Commons, Shawn Grove Park, and The Frank and Judy O’Bannon Soccer Park.
Pike Township
Located northwest of downtown, this is a college area with a diverse mix of nationalities and backgrounds, with many residents who work on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University. This community is surprisingly rural for being so close to downtown Indy, and features Eagle Creek Park—the largest park of Indianapolis, and one of the largest municipal parks in the country. Primarily a nature reserve but accessible for a range of activities, it includes 1,400 acres of water and 3,900 acres of forest.
Southport
This community is another that is rising rapidly as woodsy alternative to downtown but close to the city, being located just outside Indy’s outer ring. Great schools, lakeside living, golf, a shopping mall, and reasonably priced homes make Southport an increasingly popular choice for both families and retirees.
Communities Outside of Indianapolis to Consider
If you’re looking for something a bit further away from the city, there are plenty of options just outside Marion County. These include Carmel, Zionsville, Avon, Danville, Fishers, and Greenwood. There are also wonderful places located an hour or two from the city, including Bloomington, Fort Wayne, Lafayette, and Muncie. You can read quick snapshots of these communities in Locations We Service.
