Indianapolis Area

Bloomington is a vibrant town that's growing. The recession has not been as devastating here as many places. The unemployment rate is below the national average. And housing values haven't dropped nearly as low as towns worse off economically. Not surprising, education levels are high with 92% with high school diplomas, 54% with college degrees, and 29% with graduate or professional degrees. With plentiful apartments, finding a deal won't be a problem. Most are very reasonable. The town has a rich cultural history. The Indiana University music department, or Jacob's School of Music, is one of the most highly ranked music programs in the United States. The music school's influence trickles down to the local music scene as well as theatre. There are numerous professional theatres in the city, making Bloomington a "Broadway" in the midwest in terms of opportunity and public support. Also part of the city are the Folk Punk scene, Microcosm Publishing, and the annual Lotus Music Festival . Downtown has much to offer with diverse restaurants, enterainment, historic buildings, bars, community events, and residential living spaces. A terrible fired destroyed much of it in 1900. And downtown went through a period of decline in the 1960's and 70's because of the malls and interstate highways. But the city refocused its energy on the area. It's an intergral part of the city once again.This city is an excellent choice. It's not the most diverse and the winters are rough to someone like me who has always lived in a mild climate. But the town has much to offer economcally and intellectually.

Noblesville is town going through tremendous growth. It's projected to keep growing in population and economically. Education levels are good here with 90% having a high school diploma, 40% with college degrees, and 11% with professional or graduate degrees. The town has handled the recession well with unemployment rates significantly below the national average. Education levels also attribute to lower jobless numbers. Apartments are reasonably priced, although they're a little higher than other Indiana small towns. The downtown area is very attractive and draws people from the community to gather for events and normal shopping days. The golf courses and parks are well-maintained. In addition, in June 2009, Family Circle Magazine listed Noblesville as town in the top 10 for best places to raise a family. So the town must be doing something right. In general, your money can go far in Noblesville and opportunities will continue to arise in the coming years as more folks here.

Westfield is small town with stable middle class values in place. Incomes are good here and they seemed to have weathered the recession fairly well with an unemployment rate under the national average. If you're looking for diversity, the arts, or exciting single life diversions, keep searching. You won't find those things here. This is a family oriented town with emphasis on recycling, recreation, good schools, and smart growth. And 91% of the population is white. Their downtown has attractive businesses and shops, but the city is planning to develop the downtown area more fully. The cost of living is about 6% below the national average. Apartments are plentiful and priced reasonably. The city has strongly encouraged recycling and thus raised the number of citizens who choose to recycle. Education levels of the towns people are a plus with 90% having high school diplomas, 35% with college degrees, and 10% with professional or graduate degrees. Most of all, the town is growing and thus opportunities will come a knocking. It's clean and organized. However, it lacks culture and is a little on the boring side.

Franklin, IN is an attractive small town that's close to Indianapolis. It's home to Franklin College, a private Four year liberal arts school that was the first college in Indiana to allow women. Downtown has traditional shops, local restaurants, and coffee shops. However, it is still recovering from serious flood damage in 2008. The city has a done a good job with maintaining historic buildings and homes giving it some architectural flavor. It's relatively safe with a crime rate that's the same as the national average. The town invests in parks and recreation as evident with it Historic Greenway Trail, a walking/bike trail through the historic district and green space. The public pool is a clean cool spot for the summer. The cost of living isn't too bad here and the unemployment rate, while not great, is the same as the U.S. average. Apartments are reasonable and from the looks of it, there are a good many from which to choose. The education levels of the residents are decent with 79% holding high school diplomas, 17% with college degrees, and 7% with graduate or professional degrees. It's not the most exciting town, but with the college, you can expect a certain level of energy and vivaciousness. It's clean, organized, and seems eager to grow economically. You could do worse.

Avon is little town that's great for raising a family. The school system gets high marks from the locals. In fact, the high school marching band, and entire music program is well known all over the state for its success. Incomes here are higher and the unemployment rate is at 8%, slightly below the national average. Home values have decreased, but the numbers won't necessarily drive you to drink. So the recession winds here aren't as violent as many places in the country. It's clean, attractive, and organized, although not terribly interesting looking. Apartments are reasonable, and the parks are well-maintained. Restaurant choices are heavily sided toward the chains. Unfortunately, you'd have to drive toward the city for a good dining experiences. Overall, a great place to live for raising a family, especially if you tend to eat at home. But don't come here if you're single with 72% being married. I give it a YES.

Muncie is a college town as well as old stomping ground for manufacturing and industry. The cost of living is low and renting an apartment or buying a home requires much less cash than other cities. The downside is that unemployment is around 10%. It's high but it's on a par with the national average. Also, unemployment is a bigger problem for people who have relied on factories for work. The city is attractive and has a vibrant downtown. The Prairie Creek Reservoir and Campground gives the town lots of points. It's beautiful and residents enjoy the opportunities for boating, picnics, swimming, and other recreational activities. The Muncie Theatre is a great venue for performing arts. They also have a symphony orchestra. In addition, with Ball State University and other educational institutions, citizens have chances to go do more with careers and earn higher credentials. Overall, Muncie is a very good choice.

Located on the northern border of Indianapolis, Fishers has grown from a town of 7,200 in 1990 to a population of 65,382 in a special census of 2007. It is attracting people from the city because of its good school system, its proximity to Geist Reservoir with its multiple recreational opportunities, and its still-small town feel, even as it grows to city size.

Speedway, best known for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, lies wholly within Indianapolis, but is an incorporated town with its own town council, police department, fire department, street department, parks and recreation department, water and wastewater utilities, school system, and public library.The town is home to many renters, who comprise 53% of the town's population.  Besides the numerous apartment complexes, there are many single-family homes for rent, ranging from very small to very large.  During racing events, the town has been known to exceed one million visitors.  This can, of course, cause havoc with traffic and other nuisances, but the neighbors takes it in stride.  Many of those closest to the track even rent out their front yards for event parking.

If you don't mind your neighbors hearing knowing all your business, a Bargersville apartment home is the move you need to make! Nuzzled in Johnson County is the wonderfully small town of Bargersville, Indiana. Bargersville apartment dwellers share their tiny community with an estimated 2,300 citizens who love to warmly greet new neighbors!Bargersville apartment renters reside in a city that is claimed by two townships. White River Township and Union Township both profess they own portions of this community. For it to be so little, it sure is popular!If you are looking for a slower way of life and good-hearted neighbors with traditional values, a Bargersville apartment home is just what you need! Bargersville apartment dwellers reside in a town with low crime rates and gentle traffic. It is a wonderful place to raise a family or settle into retirement.In order to ensure you pick the right Bargersville apartment, be certain to tour all the Bargersville apartment communities thoroughly! Once you have located the Bargersville apartment right for you, move in and start relaxing in a town built for tranquility and peace!

Lebanon is a very small town that's not too far from Indianapolis. It takes the average driver 25 minutes to reach the big city. It's a family friendly place so singles probably won't like it. It's also very safe. There's not a lot to do although they have one movie theater and an active community theater group who perform at their own venue. There are few restaurant choices but a couple of gems like Bijou. It's a cute bistro located downtown in a historic building built circa 1890. Judy's Cafe is also a local favorite. The unemployment rate is below the national average. It's still around 8%, but that's not too bad for this recession. It's a good option especially if you commute to Indiana.

McCordsville is small suburb that's a short drive from Indianapolis. Nearly half of the residents have only lived there 5 years. So it's not like moving to a small town where outsiders would feel out of place. It's family oriented so singles may not like the quiet settled feeling of it. There's not much to do here for entertainment, but it is close to Geist Reservoir, a lake formed from a damn. It was built in 1944. People enjoy their boats, fishing, golf, and hiking trails. However, there are no camp grounds. You have to stay in a hotel or bed and breakfast. Living around the reservoir has become increasingly popular with new housing springing up regularly. McCordsville is not very interesting. There are very few shops and restaurants, and not much of a downtown area at all. It's more of a place where people sleep and do their shopping and entertainment in the city. Living around the reservoir would at least be more interesting. It's just not much of a town. It's safe and the folks have good incomes. But I'd pass on this one.

Liberty, IN is a very small town that is too far from Indianapolis to call it a suburb. It doesn't cost much to live there so your money will go far. And it's very safe. It's the kind of place where the vast majority of residents commute to other places for work, and probably live there for a quiet relaxed lifestyle. One asset is that it's 3 miles to Whitewater Memorial Sate Park, a 23,000 acre park. It was created to honor fallen soldiers from WWII. Your choices at the park include houseboats, five hiking trails, a nine-mile (14 km) horse trail, campsites, fishing, hunting, and and swimming. You can also practice your archery at the reservoir. There's not much to do here in Liberty at all. Restaurant choices are very limited, so you need to drive up to Richmond for variety. There are few apartments from which to choose, although prices are good. If you imagine spending lots of time at the state park, this is a great choice. But otherwise, it's too small and offers too little to be so far from Indianapolis.