Lafayette, Indiana

Downtown is the place to live for young professionals looking to walk to work or walk to play at night. It's the heart of the entertainment district with a combination of cafes, bars, restaurants, live music, art galleries and theaters making weekends simple without a car. Living options include renovated loft spaces and modern apartment/condo buildings at much lower prices than other midwest college towns.

The architecture of downtown is historic 19th/early 20th century brick and stone but the food and drink culture is thoroughly modern. The neighborhood plays host to events throughout the year. These include outdoor festivals, farmers' markets, and holiday parties. They've also done a good job building public parks and green spaces so you can grab a java from a local cafe and relax in the sun if you prefer.

The Ninth Street Hill neighborhood is an historic district on the east side of Lafayette. The city's original wealthy families lived here and built large beautiful homes in Queen Anne, Gothic Revival, Victorian and Craftsman styles. The blocks are tree-lined and the sidewalks are wide so the kiddos have plenty of room to run and bike. The neighborhood association is active and a steady pace of local events throughout the year creates a strong community vibe.

Located just south of downtown is the Ellsworth-Romig neighborhood. The area is a mix of older historic homes in the Ellsworth District, smaller cottage and craftsmen homes, and split level homes and apartment building options for those seeking rentals. In addition to plenty of housing options the area also is centered around Triangle Park. A popular place for kiddo and community play throughout the year. Additional neighborhood attractions include the Red Crown Mini-Museum, the Tippecanoe County Public Library and the headquarters of the John Phillips Sousa Foundation.

Highland Park is another Historic District neighborhood catering to families. The area's high-style Victorian and Craftsmen homes date from the 1890's to the 1920's and are on the National Register of Historic Places.

The neighborhood was built around a triangular park (hence the name) and it still serves as the primary meeting place for community gatherings and events, in addition to being a great place for the kids to play. The blocks are long and beautiful with tall trees and wide sidewalks. Highland Park has a strong neighborhood association that runs events throughout the year and represents the area to the mayor and city government.

Calendar of events: highlandparklafayette.com/event/