Over 65% of the population in Indy live in family households and over 35% of the population is under the age of 25. Combine a young, family-oriented city, with the gosh darn friendliness of the place, and you get an amazing place for a young family (or someone who wouldn’t mind one someday).

Indianapolis is considered the crossroads of the country because it sits at the intersection of 4 major freeways. In some ways that’s the issue. You’re really in the center of a lot of land here and in fact, it's the largest city in the U.S. not on a navigable body of water. There's some question about this designation due to the White River that winds through the city and offers some small craft access but for larger boats/ships it remains cut off. For those moving from a coast, a great lake, or a river, that lack of water access and view might matter.  



Young and Family Friendly

LookyLOO Review of Indianapolis

Indianapolis is a city all on its own, which means locals have to rely on each other and work to improve the city if they want more entertainment or nightlife. Locals love that it’s a big city that still feels small (perks of being in the midwest, eh?). There is a great downtown, an “in the works” food scene, a great airport and locals boast about how bike-friendly the city is. If the weather is nice, you’ll catch people biking from BR to Carmel or downtown, all on a dedicated greenway. Speaking of weather, Indianapolis is in the midwest, which means you’re getting all 4 seasons. Winters can be grey and depressing, while the summers can be stifling. You’ll also catch a lot of people getting into the college sports season. As a Big Ten area, you’ll have no shortage of people wanting to go out and catch a game either in person or at a local bar. 

If you're interested in the going on's of Indianapolis check out the [**Downtown calendar of events**](https://downtownindy.org/events/calendar):



Lifestyle 


Indianapolis, like many midwest cities, suffered from the deindustrialization and loss of manufacturing jobs over the years. The city used to rival Detroit as an auto manufacturing giant, but companies started shutting down plants and thousands lost their jobs between 1990-2012. Since then, the largest industries in Indy are mainly finance, insurance, education, healthcare, wholesale trade, and hospitality. Niche markets include amatuer sports and auto racing. Speaking of racing...The Indianapolis 500 is what the city might be best known for. Sports tourism is a huge draw for the city and brings in a ton of revenue. The Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium are also huge draws and bring in a ton of work-related tourism and convention goers every year. Headquarters in Indy include Anthem, Inc, Simon Property Group and Eli Lilly, which has become the largest private employer in the city, with over 11,000 workers. Biotech, life sciences, and healthcare have steadily become front runners as leading industries of the city. Other large corporations in the city include Lids, Steak n’ Shake, and Duke Realty. Because of where the city is located and the extensive highway and railway infrastructure, Indy is huge for logistics and has the second largest FedEx Express hub in the world. 


Worklife 

Here's a local's response to a question about best school districts in the Indianapolis/area:

**RodolfoSeamonkey**
1y ago

Source: I'm a teacher in Indianapolis and here are my recommendations:

Indy Area:

[**Speedway**](https://www.speedwayschools.org/): 

[**Washington Township**](https://www.msdwt.k12.in.us/) to the North probably has the best public school system outside of Speedway

[**Perry Township**](https://www.perryschools.org/) (South) is also pretty good

If you're indifferent to public vs charter, [**Indianapolis Classical Schools**](https://www.herronclassical.org/) (Herron and Riverside) are top-tier in the country, and are not religiously affiliated.

Just Outside of Indy:

Northwest: Zionsville Schools

Northside: Carmel-Clay schools

Northeast: Hamilton County Schools (Fishers HS, Hamilton SE)

East: New Palestine schools

Southeast: Unsure

South: Center Grove

Southwest: Plainfield Schools

West: Brownsburg

Schools

The average rent in Indy is less than $1,000 a month, which is just 17% of the area’s median income (San Francisco is 43% and New York is 40%). That makes Indianapolis the cheapest place to rent and the second most affordable city in the country. Looking to buy? Indy has the most affordable home of any large city in America. Seriously, you can raise a family or get your start professionally here for not a lot of money. 


Cost Of Housing

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**nlh1013**
Living in Indy
1y ago
✭✭✭

Irvington
I really like Indy, as a non-native. I thought I’d only be here for 2-3 years. I’m coming up on year 3 and have no plans of leaving.

Pros - I think the weather is pretty mild (or at least has been the last 3 years), COL is low, lots of other large cities within a few hours drive, lots of events in the city (sports/conferences), and a lot of super cool local spots.

Cons - we are a blue city in a sea of red (the sea of red part being the con). Not sure if that matters to you but just my personal thoughts. Roads are terrible, I’ve lived several places and these are the worst potholes I’ve ever seen lol. That’s all I can think of for now.

For more reviews from locals check out: [**The Reviews**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/indianapolis/reviews).

Landlocked

Reviews of Indianapolis from Locals

**The Best Thing About Indianapolis?** Young and Family Friendly

Over 65% of the population in Indy live in family households and over 35% of the population is under the age of 25. Combine a young, family-oriented city, with the gosh darn friendliness of the place, and you get an amazing city for a young family (or someone who wouldn’t mind one someday). 

**The Worst Thing About Indianapolis?** Landlocked

Indianapolis is considered the crossroads of the country because it sits at the intersection of 4 major freeways. In some ways that’s the issue. You’re really in the center of a lot of land here and in fact it is the largest city in the country not on a navigable body of water. For many that doesn’t matter but for those who live on coasts or a great lake or river that lack of water access or view might weigh on you. 

**How You Living?** With Nice Neighbors

Indianapolis has an interesting downtown scene. Old Northside has Victorian Mansions that have been carved up into cool pads for the wealthy who want to live downtown. There’s also Fountain Square neighborhood with large homes and lofts built from the former factory and warehouse buildings. Broad Ripple Village offers a groovier community vibe with smaller homes and lots of bars and restaurants for weekend play. Finally there are great neighborhoods on the South Side for families looking for bigger homes and sizable yards. Pretty much whatever you’re looking for you can find here. 

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** Cost Of Housing

The average rent in Indy is less than $1,000 a month, which is just 17% of the area’s median income (San Francisco is 43% and New York is 40%). That makes Indianapolis the cheapest place to rent and the second most affordable city in the country. Looking to buy? Indy has the most affordable home of any large city in America. Seriously, you can raise a family or get your start professionally here for not a lot of money. 


Indianapolis can feel like it’s in the middle of nowhere, and it is…sort of. Almost smack-dab in the middle of Indiana, it’s within driving distance to large cities like Chicago to the northwest, Cincinnati to the southeast, Columbus directly east, and Louisville almost directly south. Because it’s the only big city in the immediate area, Indianapolis residents have created a circle of really nice suburbs around the city. Some like Carmel, Noblesville, Fishers, and Muncie have a reputation and feel all their own. As far as topography goes, it’s pretty flat, but there are some lakes north of the city and, if you're up for the drive, some state parks and forests down south by Bloomington. 


The Area

Unlike other college campuses, Butler is a relatively quiet college. The surrounding areas boast great restaurants, bars, and great value for your money, housing wise. These neighborhoods are walkable, safe, and a great distance from other activities in the area. If you’re in the know, you know that SoBro is the coolest part of Broad Ripple. It’s its own neighborhood, has a smaller feel, and has a great atmosphere. Snag a great apartment for a decent price for just you or one with enough room for friends!
- SoBro
- Butler-Tarkington
- Mass Ave.


College Students

SoBro

If you’re looking for a good time in Indy, go where the young professionals are. The popular neighborhood of Broad Ripple is dominated by bars and late night spots. In addition, there are some great, smaller starter homes. You can get your pick of craftsman or bungalow style for a lot less money than other areas. The neighborhood is always busy with young people, college kids, and younger families. It’s the perfect area to walk between breweries, dinner spots, parks, and the farmer’s market!
- Broad Ripple
- Brownsburg
- Old Northside


Young Professionals

Broad Ripple


Starting a family doesn’t mean you have to stop the fun! Indy has plenty to offer by way of fun, safe neighborhoods that still have a lively atmosphere for new parents and young families. These neighborhoods feature great homes, great restaurants, and green spaces for fun weekend activities! Irvington is on the east side and is a great historic neighborhood. It’s pricier than similar areas like Little Flower, but it has larger houses. Small businesses have started flocking to this area in the past 5 years and it’s definitely the place to be for people who want to be in the city, but be able to have a neighborhood feel with a bit more house.
- Brownsburg
- Meridian Kessler
- Irvington


Young Families

Brownsburg

Established families often have different priorities than their younger counterparts. These neighborhoods may be less walkable, but you can find great homes, great schools, and restaurants all in one place! Check out Fall Creek Place for tree-lined streets, parks, and great amenities. This neighborhood is a long-standing favorite amongst Indy families and it’s right in the heart of the city! If you can, snag a restored historic home close to one of the area's great parks!
- Fall Creek Place
- Fishers/Carmel
- Noblesville


Established Families

Fall Creek Place

It’s easy to stay close to the action in Indy without being *in* the action. In-town neighborhoods have plenty of funky and fun options, while also having some of the best restaurants and bars in the area! Retire in Fountain Square and reap all the benefits of the work that’s been put into the area in the last 5 years or so. It’s considered “up and coming” and there are great restaurants, breweries, and newly flipped homes or condos.
- Fountain Square
- Downtown/Mass Ave
- Nickel Plate District


Empty Nesters

Fountain Square

Indianapolis

**nlh1013**
Living in Indy
1y ago
✭✭✭

Irvington
I really like Indy, as a non-native. I thought I’d only be here for 2-3 years. I’m coming up on year 3 and have no plans of leaving.

Pros - I think the weather is pretty mild (or at least has been the last 3 years), COL is low, lots of other large cities within a few hours drive, lots of events in the city (sports/conferences), and a lot of super cool local spots.

Cons - we are a blue city in a sea of red (the sea of red part being the con). Not sure if that matters to you but just my personal thoughts. Roads are terrible, I’ve lived several places and these are the worst potholes I’ve ever seen lol. That’s all I can think of for now.

**whoops-1771**
Living in Indy
1y ago
✭✭✭

I moved up from FL about a year and a half ago and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. The lack of humidity nearly cured my depression lol you can go outside and enjoy it, absolutely crazy. Indiana has amazing weather and even nicer park areas, almost no natural disasters (you’ll feel so weird on your first June 1st out of FL) and the people are incredibly friendly. Sure there’s “less to do” than in south FL, but you’re also only a couple hours drive from so many major cities you can find countless things to do! There are a ton of sporting events all year long especially Indycar for the month of May (baseball, hockey, football, polo, basketball, etc) to check out and really great concerts that pass through too!

The largest downside is first and foremost the income tax- it sucks. The county tax gets added on top of that so definitely look up your county tax rate because that was an unpleasant surprise. A just weird thing - they do vehicle registration by last name instead of birthday here and you have to put your weight on your license lol. Otherwise, the political landscape is a downer definitely doesn’t feel split like FL it’s pretty one sided here and that’s a touch depressing. It sounds silly but I miss the food from FL the most, there are great restaurants here but I haven’t found more than two or three that hit the same way south Florida does. Overall the positives of Indiana (Indianapolis specifically) drastically outweigh the negatives for me- I hope you find your ideal new state!

TL;DR: Indy has enough of everything that big city people enjoy, plus the benefits of smaller towns.

Some things that I think are important to know:

When it comes to weather, it is just like Chicago, New York, Boston, Philly, etc. Winters that aren't so bad until January hits, then it sucks for two straight months. Spring is beautiful unless it rains too much. Summer is awesome until brutal humidity and temperatures hit in late July, but it's way better than the Winter. Then the Fall is just incredible with moderate temps and changing leaves to enjoy campfires, going on camping trips or college football games out of town. So basically if you're used to the awesome moderate temperatures of the west coast, then it's not going to be as pleasant.

Indy is technically one of the largest cities by population, but that's because the city and county government combined in the 70's, making it the 12th largest city on paper. But hardly any cities have combined with their county government. Looking at cities by metropolitan areas will help you judge more accurately. So when you look at population by metro areas, Indianapolis is 34th, right behind Cleveland, OH. For this reason, I personally don't consider Indy to be a major city. The population density is very low, which is why there's not much public transportation, and why housing is very affordable. The city is very sprawled out, and although a lot more people are moving downtown, it's still not very densely populated downtown. The downtown area with all the big buildings is mostly made up of hotels and businesses. You absolutely have to have a car to enjoy everything the whole city offers.

**xupthree60**
Living in Indy
Updated 1y ago
✭✭✭

My wife and I moved from Florida (Altamonte springs/Orlando) about 7 years ago. I have family here and our son was born 3 months early on Thanksgiving Day while we were visiting. While he was getting bigger at Riley children's hospital my wife fell in love with Indy and we moved here a few years later.

The cost of living is way lower than Florida, but housing prices skyrocketed recently. I think they have started to level off, but my house I paid 150 for 5 years ago is now worth at least 300. I'm in a more real area that's still Indianapolis city limits, so at 300 my house is still a steal compared to Orlando. 2200sq ft, 4 bedroom, 3 bath, office, loft, and 3 car garage.

The city here does a lot more cheap or even free events downtown, especially for families. Like ice cream socials on the circle, free or very cheap concerts, that kind of thing. We absolutely love Indy and we take our family downtown often and have never felt unsafe. I looked up crime rates when I moved here, Orlando and Indy are almost the same size and crime rates are also almost the same. I will say the news here focuses on crime more than Orlando so it feels like almost all you hear.

Having 4 seasons is amazing for us as people who grew up in Florida, the weather changes quickly so I'm the winter you can be freezing around zero on week and 70deg the next week. In the summer you can be 96deg one week and hit the 60s the next. Fall and spring are mostly amazing weather.

**Pros/Cons of Living in Indy?**
MasterKluch
Living in Indy
1y ago
✭✭✭


Indy is a good city and has plenty of great suburbs. It's "middle America" or at least I've heard it described that way and find it to be true. There are gritty and rundown areas and some very nice and gentrifying areas too. I grew up in central Ohio so although I can't compare Indy to Cleveland, I can compare it to Columbus and they're fairly similar in size and feel. There's nothing here to draw people in large numbers (like the beach in Florida) except for the low COL and decent job market (industry dependent). Overall though it's a pretty good place to live. You could do much worse IMO.

Indianapolis, Indiana

Naptown

Looklyloo Score: 85