As Indiana’s state capital, Indianapolis is known for its picturesque greenery and waterways. Sports fans know it as the home of the famed Indianapolis 500 motor race, which takes place every May. Indianapolis also has multiple universities, professional sports teams, and the world’s largest children’s museum. With over 876,000 residents living in Indianapolis and more moving here every year, not everyone may be comfortable in such close quarters. We’ve compiled a list of the 10 best suburbs for you to check out.
10. Greenwood
- Population: 58,778
- Median Home Value: $149,600
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 26 minutes
- School Ranking: A-
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,777
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 83
Located 15 miles south of Indianapolis, Greenwood has a wealth of activities to enjoy, from the aquatic center to golfing. Whether you’re catching a show at the comedy club or visiting one of the local craft breweries, you’re guaranteed to have a good time. Browse the homes available in Greenwood!
9. Avon
- Population: 18,343
- Median Home Value: $198,500
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 30 minutes
- School Ranking: A
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,332
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 233
Avon is 13 miles directly west of Indianapolis. Known for its natural beauty and environmental preservation, Avon has a multitude of parks as well as Burnett Woods, a 68-acre wooded nature preserve. In addition, Avon has plenty of restaurants, places of worship and shopping centers. Your new home in Avon awaits you!
8. Speedway
- Population: 12,159
- Median Home Value: $119,400
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 21 minutes
- School Ranking: A
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 522
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 35
Speedway is about six miles northwest of downtown Indianapolis. Fans of car racing know Speedway as the home of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indianapolis 500. Speedway has more to offer than the racetrack, of course; folks here can enjoy multiple parks, restaurants and shopping centers. With Indianapolis just a short distance away, Speedway is ideal for those who want a small-town life near a large city.
7. Noblesville
- Population: 63,133
- Median Home Value: $194,800
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 26 minutes
- School Ranking: A
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 589
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 59
Noblesville is situated approximately 28 miles northeast of Indianapolis. This sprawling city includes multiple parks, golf courses and an aquatic center, and the Morse Reservoir offers additional outdoor recreational activities. Noblesville is also home to some great restaurants, stores and the Ruoff Music Center. Check out the house listings for Noblesville!
6. Westfield
- Population: 41,528
- Median Home Value: $242,500
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 23 minutes
- School Ranking: A
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 390
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 11
Driving 20 miles up Highway 31 will take you to Westfield, located north of Indianapolis. Nature enthusiasts will love the wide variety of parks available, including Cool Creek Park Nature Center, which combines natural beauty with educational opportunities. Just south of the Nature Center is a large shopping plaza with restaurants, stores and a movie theater. On warmer days, cool down with a cold drink at one of the local breweries. Take a look at the homes available in Westfield!
5. Brownsburg
- Population: 26,397
- Median Home Value: $173,400
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 27 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 264
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 33
Brownsburg is approximately 18 miles northwest of Indianapolis. This city hosts multiple community events throughout the year, from movies in the park during summer to Christmas Under the Stars in winter. Over the past several years, the city has worked on redeveloping its downtown into a vibrant economic center. In addition, there are all of the parks, restaurants and stores you’d desire. Your dream home in Brownsburg is just around the corner!
4. Fishers
- Population: 93,362
- Median Home Value: $251,700
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 27 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 815
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 46
With over 90,000 residents calling it home, Fishers is the second-largest suburb on our list. Fishers has a wealth of culture, visible in its art scene, music festivals and diverse restaurants. There’s no shortage of additional entertainment too; from escape rooms to golf courses, there’s never a dull day. Find your new home in Fishers!
3. Plainfield
- Population: 34,386
- Median Home Value: $163,000
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 23 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 794
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 93
There’s nothing plain about Plainfield. Located about 18 miles southwest of Indianapolis, the town is only eight miles away from Indianapolis International Airport. As well as plenty of parks and shopping centers, Plainfield has family entertainment options like Sky Zone Trampoline Park and the Splash Island Indoor Water Park. Take a look at the houses available in Plainfield!
2. Zionsville
- Population: 27,153
- Median Home Value: $369,600
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 26.2 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 60
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 0
Zionsville is known for being not only one of the safest communities in the state, but the country. If that’s not enough to entice you to move here, Zionsville is also home to a great education system and unique sights, such as the Zion Nature Sanctuary, Zionsville Performing Arts Center and the AFCA Antique Fan Museum. With plenty of restaurants and a winery, Zionsville has it all. Don’t miss out on the houses available in Zionsville!
1. Carmel
- Population: 93,510
- Median Home Value: $330,600
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 24 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 716
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 43
At the top of our list is the sweet city of Carmel. Located 16 miles north of Indianapolis and the largest suburb on our list, this city has a lot to love, including parks, country clubs and community centers. One highlight is Coxhall Gardens, which features a mansion and outdoor amphitheater on a 125-acre park. Combine this with a wide variety of restaurants, places of worship and shopping centers, and you have all you could want. Find your home sweet home in Carmel!
Additional Suburbs
Suburb | Pop. | Median Home Value | Mean Travel to Work | School Rank | Property Crimes | Violent Crimes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shelbyville | 19,326 | $99,100 | 21 minutes | B+ | 563 | 215 |
Lebanon | 16,117 | $115,300 | 21 minutes | B+ | 2,217 | 389 |
Franklin | 25,248 | $123,000 | 24 minutes | B | 708 | 129 |
Lawrence | 49,046 | $141,300 | 27 minutes | B | 1,083 | 210 |
Greenfield | 22,564 | $135,200 | 23 minutes | B | 2,344 | 411 |
Greencastle | 10,530 | $100,000 | 17 minutes | B- | 2,555 | 448 |
Martinsville | 11,644 | $97,400 | 26 minutes | B- | 2,600 | 456 |
Beech Grove | 14,839 | $98,800 | 24 minutes | C+ | 2,565 | 450 |
Anderson | 55,037 | $72,100 | 24 minutes | C | 2,340 | 227 |
NewHomeSource pulled data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Services and the U.S. Census Bureau. In the event exact crime data was unavailable, estimates were used. These factors were entered into an algorithm to calculate a score for each suburb.
Other Indiana Resources
Sarah graduated from Trinity University in 2012 with a degree in International Relations and Political Science. She writes blogs on new homes, decor, communities, and more for NewHomeSource. When she’s not writing, you can find her spending time with her three cats.