Relocating to the Indianapolis area...

[Lily of the Valley]

We are relocating to the Indianapolis area sometime in the next few months. We have scoped the area out a bit, but are still undecided about where exactly to move. Dh will be working in downtown Indianapolis, but we do not want to live in Indianapolis proper.

 

Oldest dd will be attending public high school, so good schools are important. We've looked at Fishers, Carmel, and Zionsville in the north. We've also looked at the Center Grove area (near Greenwood) to the south. We're also considering the Brownsburg/Avon area. The high school dd currently attends is about 1200 kids, so she's used to a larger school. Carmel high school might be a little too big. Does anyone have any recommendations (for or against) any of these areas?

 

We will be looking for a newer house (less than 20 years old) to either buy or rent. We'd like to be in a family friendly, safe area close to good parks and other activities. We'd like dh's commute time to be 30 minutes or less (give or take). Schools with good education are important, but I'm also interested in hearing if anyone knows anything about the safety/culture of various high schools.

 

Thanks!

[FeFe]

We moved to Carmel in June. There are a lot of stereotypes tied with this area but I haven't found them to be true so far. We live in an older home because we found that in order to stay in our price range, get the size house we wanted and have a good sized yard an older neighborhood was it.

 

My kids absolutely love the schools. My oldest is a sophomore (he came from a large school but not 4800 kids large) but he is doing well. I'm quite impressed with the opportunities the kids have there. The hardest thing for him to get used to is the block scheduling but he's gotten the hang of it.

 

As far as crime, you're in and around a larger city so you hear of it. I know in Carmel specifically, I've gotten notice of a few daytime break-ins (not in my neighborhood but not far). I know they arrested a few people recently who they think may have been involved.

 

My one complaint so far - the speed limits! So very slow and the police *will* pull you over. On the other hand, I appreciate the slow limit because sometimes it can be hard to get out of certain places but the slow limit and often courteous people help. I've learned to love the round-abouts but not before ticking a few people off. :tongue_smilie:

 

PM with any questions and I'll help the best I can. Good luck with your search!

Edited September 8, 2012 by FeFe

[MomatHWTK]

I'd go with the northwest areas rather than south. But we've not lived there for 12 years.

[FourOaks]

Feel free to PM me if you'd like. I've lived in the burbs of Indy for over 15 years. I can probably give you the comparisons of most of what you'd like to know.

 

We had a death in the family and are having the funeral tomorrow, so if you don't hear from me for a couple days, that is why, but I will get back to you when I can.

[edithcrawley]

I grew up in Fishers, and would definitely recommend living there. There is lots to do, it isn't too far of a drive from downtown, and it is right on the Interstate. Housing prices vary quite a bit as you've probably seen. The newer cookie-cutter type neighborhoods (around 116th and Brook School Rd) tend to be more expensive, whereas the older neighborhoods near (116th and Allisonville), tend to be less. As far as the schools---the HSE district is excellent, both high schools (Fishers and HSE) are pretty similar. There are dozens of AP/honors classes offered if that is something you're looking for and the graduation rates are really good.

 

As far as crime--every place has crime of course, but I always felt very safe there. I agree with FeFe on the speed limits, they can be rather slow in some places, moreso in Carmel than in Fishers. Carmel is known as roundabout land, but Fishers seems to be getting more every year. Some bits of Carmel are rather interesting, such as the statues in the art district. Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong with either option, maybe see if your kids can sign up to shadow someone at each of the high schools for a day and see where they feel the most comfortable.

 

 

There are lots of parks in Hamilton County. There also is a living history museum called Connor Prairie. As far as the 30 minute commute you mentioned---it is possible, but right now there is a lot of construction on I69 and I465 right on that side of town (the 465 construction should be done in a few months, the I69 exit 5 (Fishers exit) construction is expected to take another year or so IIRC)). Traffic is very heavy during rush hour going to and from Hamilton Cty, so if your DH can get flexible hours, he'd be much more likely to only have a 30 min. commute.

 

Hope this helps! :)

[FeFe]

I was thinking about this more as we were out and about this weekend. If I had it to do over again, I would have looked a little harder at Westfield. Not quite as developed (which is a plus in my book) as Carmel but I'm sure it will be in a few years. So, Carmel, Fishers and Westfield would be my recommendations if you're looking on the north side.

 

My DH works in southeast Indianapolis (off of 74) and it takes him 20-30 minutes. We live near 116th/Gray Rd. area. He leaves the house around 7:15 and gets home around 6:00 so that gives you and idea about the levels of traffic during those times of day. I think the most congested area for him at those times is Keystone Pkwy.

[hmvaughan4]

We're are in Hendricks County, west of Avon. I love our little town and it seems to have a lot of community activities. It is smaller than Avon and Brownsburg, but I'm not sure of the exact numbers for the schools. I'd be happy to share more if you're interested!

[Wabi Sabi]

I personally would want to avoid the north side in general. Too much traffic for me! Also, with the exception of possibly Brownsburg, the areas you mentioned are a bit too "yuppy-ish" for my tastes. Obviously though, you might feel otherwise.

[Lang Syne Boardie]

I personally would want to avoid the north side in general. Too much traffic for me! Also, with the exception of possibly Brownsburg, the areas you mentioned are a bit too "yuppy-ish" for my tastes. Obviously though, you might feel otherwise.

 

To kind of expand upon this, I offer the following:

 

If your family....

1. makes lots of money

2. wants access to very good, well-funded public schools and a variety of options in private schools

3. wants access to the best opportunities for hs'ers that Indy has to offer (expensive but awesome) including football and classical co-ops

4. wants access to nearby excellent arts and entertainment

5. needs a layer of prestige in neighborhood and housing....

 

go north. Carmel or Fishers.

 

If your family...

1. is solidly middle-class by midwestern standards but doesn't want the most expensive side of town

2. wants excellent, well-funded public schools but doesn't need excellent private schools

3. likes homeschool groups that are casual and almost always non-academic (except for Classical Conversations, which is everywhere)

4. doesn't mind driving an hour northeast to excellent arts, entertainment, restaurants, etc. or can't afford that, anyway

5. doesn't mind a rural, small-town, farming history "feel" to a newly higher-end area...

 

go west. Brownsburg would be the top recommendation, or Plainfield. The entire range of housing and neighborhoods exists in these towns, but overall the west side is much more affordable and more down-homey than than Carmel and Fishers.

[Lily of the Valley]

Thank you all for taking the time to give me so much information. I won't have time until this evening to go through everything and reply, but I just wanted to let you all know that I am reading. :-)

[Deniseibase]

Another couple options - Westfield and Noblesville are JUST north of Carmel and Fishers respectively (literally, it's difficult for people to tell where one leaves off the and next begins), also have excellent public schools, are not as expensive as Carmel, and would just be another 10-15 minutes commute time for your DH. Both are family friendly and safe.

 

Also, if you end up anywhere on the north side, head up to the Westfield Public Library and talk to Tammy Marquam in the children's dept. She is both a librarian and a homeschooling mom, and maintains for the library a very extensive and up to date list of every homeschool co-op, class, support group, or other opportunity for homeschoolers from downtown Indy to northern Hamilton County.

[FourOaks]

Tibbie, this rundown is PERFECT!!! I was trying to figure out a way to say this correctly and you did just that.

 

I think we may live close to one another! ;)

 

I would add that the park system in Hendricks county is THE BEST! If that matters to you, I think you should definitely check it out.

 

 

To kind of expand upon this, I offer the following:

 

If your family....

1. makes lots of money

2. wants access to very good, well-funded public schools and a variety of options in private schools

3. wants access to the best opportunities for hs'ers that Indy has to offer (expensive but awesome) including football and classical co-ops

4. wants access to nearby excellent arts and entertainment

5. needs a layer of prestige in neighborhood and housing....

 

go north. Carmel or Fishers.

 

If your family...

1. is solidly middle-class by midwestern standards but doesn't want the most expensive side of town

2. wants excellent, well-funded public schools but doesn't need excellent private schools

3. likes homeschool groups that are casual and almost always non-academic (except for Classical Conversations, which is everywhere)

4. doesn't mind driving an hour northeast to excellent arts, entertainment, restaurants, etc. or can't afford that, anyway

5. doesn't mind a rural, small-town, farming history "feel" to a newly higher-end area...

 

go west. Brownsburg would be the top recommendation, or Plainfield. The entire range of housing and neighborhoods exists in these towns, but overall the west side is much more affordable and more down-homey than than Carmel and Fishers.

[Lang Syne Boardie]

Tibbie, this rundown is PERFECT!!! I was trying to figure out a way to say this correctly and you did just that.

 

I think we may live close to one another! ;)

 

 

Oh, thank you! I was so afraid I'd offend all the central Indiana WTM'ers here, so I tried to be careful. LOL

 

I'm in Indianapolis. I grew up in Hendricks County but haven't lived in that county for many years. I agree about the parks there! If we ever move back to Hendricks County I have my eye on Plainfield. Close to the city, good town management (or so it seems to someone not actually paying property taxes there).

[WagsWife]

We're are in Hendricks County, west of Avon. I love our little town and it seems to have a lot of community activities. It is smaller than Avon and Brownsburg, but I'm not sure of the exact numbers for the schools. I'd be happy to share more if you're interested!

 

I have not lived in Indiana for about 20 years, so I can't really add anything to the discussion...but I wanted to say that I am from this same area! I graduated from Cascade High school. Just thought it was cool to see someone on here from my old stomping grounds!

[Lily of the Valley]

I apologize for asking a question and then disappearing. We've been finishing up projects on our current home to get it ready to list, and I feel like I haven't had a moment to breathe! :-)

 

Tibbie, thank you for the rundown on the areas I asked about. That helps a lot. We would probably better fit into the description you gave of the Western suburbs, and we really considered those areas. I think we've decided to move to the Carmel area, though. We really want to be close to activities, shopping, etc. and Carmel seems to be the area that has a lot of those things we're looking for. We're moving from a town in east-central Iowa, and we feel like we're constantly driving 1-2 hours to do any type of fun family-oriented activity. We really don't want to have to do that all the time, especially with dh commuting to work. His commute at his old job was about 8 minutes from our front door to his desk at work, so a longer commute is definitely an adjustment.

 

I don't know what would be considered lots of money. We are definitely not wealthy, but we are comfortably middle-class. We won't be joining a country club, but we can afford for our kids to be involved in some activities. We won't be homeschooling. Our oldest dd is a junior, and our youngest is in 6th grade. They are both nervous (especially oldest dd) about entering a new school after the school year has already begun.

 

Are there particular areas in Carmel that we should avoid? Areas that would be good for a family with the ages of our children?

 

Thank you, everyone! You are all a huge help!

[blakereese]

No advice, just wanted to say I am a tiny bit jealous. :D That is EXACTLY where we want to end up if DH is ever lucky enough to get a job there.

 

I hope you find your perfect home! :001_smile:

[Lily of the Valley]

No advice, just wanted to say I am a tiny bit jealous. :D That is EXACTLY where we want to end up if DH is ever lucky enough to get a job there.

 

I hope you find your perfect home! :001_smile:

 

Thank you! :001_smile:

[Sandy in Indy]

Traffic on the north side of Indy is insane. I hate to drive up there and avoid it as much as possible. Do NOT under any circumstances settle in an area that will require your dh to drive on I-69--unless he likes sitting in traffic. Going Keystone or 31 is not much better.

 

Personally, I'd go south rather than north or west, but that's just me. Center Grove is really a nice area.