Thinking about moving to Indianapolis? As one of the best cities in the U.S. for real estate with a low cost of living, Indianapolis is the perfect place for singles and young professionals to plant their roots. Here are the five best Indianapolis neighborhoods for singles and young professionals to call home!
Broad Ripple
Photo via @matt.meyers.realtor.indy
- Home Price: $325,500 median purchase price; $1,384 average monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 3% of Indianapolis neighborhoods
Perfect for singles and young professionals living in Indianapolis, Broad Ripple is a dynamic cultural district located 20 minutes north of downtown. This Indy neighborhood is laid-back and dog-friendly, with welcoming restaurant patios, fantastic art, nightlife, and plenty of open spaces in Broad Ripple Park. Day and night, residents of Broad Ripple will always have exciting things to do, including local events like the Broad Ripple Duck Race, Broad Ripple Art Walk, or the BRVA Monthly Cleanup. And students and graduates from nearby Butler University will love this area’s booming social scene! Plus, this neighborhood in Indianapolis is filled with Mid-Century Modern and Ranch-style homes, Contemporary apartments, and cozy Broad Ripple bungalows, which are perfect for young professionals ready to start a life in Indianapolis.
Things to Do in Broad Ripple
Purchase locally-grown foods and know the proceeds will help develop the neighborhood at the Broad Ripple Farmers Market. Enjoy the ArtsPark sculpture garden, take a glass, drawing, or fibers art class, or view compelling exhibits at the Indianapolis Art Center. Buy new plants, repot greenery, or receive a design consultation for your home or office at Monon Plant Company. Find gently-used records of all genres or pre-order new releases of your favorite albums at Indy CD & Vinyl. Listen to live music and experience the taste of Brick House Nachos, Whole Stromboli, or a “Build Your Own” Pie at Brick House Dueling Pianos. Go back to the Roaring Twenties with the house-favorite Moscow Mule or Boss-Manhattan at the Wiseguy Lounge while munching on specialty pies like The Don, Tommy “Two Times,” or The Bootlegger at GoodFellas Pizzeria. Start date night right with Southern Style Crab Dip, Chipotle Pork Tenderloins, or Chocolate Bread Pudding at The Northside Social. Or stop by Indiana’s first female-owned and operated brewery to sip on a Dorian Espresso Stout, Tiberius IPA, or Myopic Hazy IPA at Scarlet Lane Brewing SoBro Tap House.
Downtown Indianapolis
Photo via @homeispenrose
- Home Price: $415,000 median purchase price; $1,636 average monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 3% of Indianapolis neighborhoods
Downtown Indianapolis—also known as Mile Square—lives in the heart of Indy’s Wholesale District, Market East District, and other central business districts in Indianapolis. Singles in Downtown Indy will appreciate the proximity to the Indianapolis Cultural Trail and the sprawling urban park of White River State Park, which boasts attractions like the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites and the Indianapolis Indians (MiLB) at Victory Field. With newly-renovated lofts and apartments close to popular jobs and public workspaces, this busy area is ideal for young professionals in Indianapolis. Even students will love how close this Indy neighborhood is to high-quality universities like Indiana University and Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)!
Things to Do in Downtown Indianapolis
See Broadway and sold-out shows like Chris Rock or Charli XCX at the historical Old National Centre. Laugh your heart out during acts like Luenell, Amy Miller, and Daniel Simonsen at the Helium Comedy Club. Cheer on the Indianapolis Colts (NFL) at Lucas Oil Stadium, or attend fan events like Colts in Motion, Colts Gaming, or Colts at Bat. Find your dance partner, learn a new technique, and discover the joy of Latin dance at Latin Expressions Dance Company. Grab lunch, hang out with friends, or shop unique gifts from over 20 merchants at the Indianapolis City Market. Start your morning with Arcane Cold Brew, a Blended Chocolate Chip Mocha, or Cafe Miel at Georgia Street Grind. Take your lunch break and try a Brisket Melt, Jumbo Shrimp Roll, or the Fried Catfish Wrap at Love Handle. Fill up on seasonal menu items like the Wood-Fired San Marzano Tomatoes + Goat Cheese, Pan-Fried Gnocchi, or the Kimchi Meatloaf at Union50. Or snack on baked goodies like the Confetti Set Go!, Bart Simpson, or Breakfast Club Mimosa at The Flying Cupcake.
Fountain Square
Photo via @housesleuth
- Home Price: $311,000 median purchase price; $1,165 average monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 3% of Indianapolis neighborhoods
With vintage charm, modern amenities, and warehouses converted into elegant lofts, Fountain Square is one of the best places to live in Indianapolis for singles. Need to commute to Downtown Indy for work? Young professionals in Indianapolis can take advantage of a quick, ten-minute drive from Fountain Square—or have a smooth bike commute to Downtown Indianapolis. This Indianapolis neighborhood adds a touch of Europe with its central Fountain Square Plaza and residents of German, Irish, and Italian backgrounds. And as one of the most walkable cities in Indianapolis, Fountain Square is great for singles who want to stay active on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.
Things to Do in Fountain Square
Enjoy Gatsby-era cocktails, pinball, and billiard tables at Imbibe Bar & Game Room; sip on a Daredevil Liftoff IPA or Luna Nuda Rose wine at Rooftop Garden Cocktail Lounge, or knock down vintage pins with friends at Action & Atomic Duckpin Bowling inside the Fountain Square Theatre Building. Catch performances by Pink Mountaintops, Mike & The Moonpies, or Meat Puppets at Hi-Fi Indy & Hi-Fi Annex. Join local artists for First Fridays, a monthly art exhibition with music and food at The Murphy Arts Center. Attend an improv comedy performance, a Frankie’s Flicks movie screening, or The Burlesque Bingo Bango Show at The White Rabbit Cabaret. Start your day with adoptable kitties and drinks like a Strawberry Icy Cat, White Mocha, and the Cafe Meow at Nine Lives Indy. Order the Pad Thai, Bangkok Fried Rice, or Drunken Noodles for lunch at Siam Square. Chow down on Kalua Pork Tacos or a Tijuana Torpedo burger before putting down a Paloma or Lava Flow cocktail at Mexican tiki bar Revolucion.
Lockerbie Square
Photo via @natalieclaytonindy
- Home Price: $259,000 median purchase price; $1,315 average monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 3% of Indianapolis neighborhoods
As one of the oldest neighborhoods in Indianapolis, Lockerbie Square features cobblestone streets and a mix of housing types like Victorian mansions, Queen Annes, or Italianate homes. This Indy neighborhood celebrates its Bavarian influence with German heritage events like Public Bier & Building Tours and Das GartenGrillFest by Athenaeum. If singles living in Lockerbie Square need more to do, look no further than Massachusetts Avenue (known as Mass Ave to locals)! Otherwise, this five-block area is walkable and ripe with finds on each street like Silver In the City Gift Shop or eclectic boutiques like Sage, providing Indianapolis residents with plenty to do. With so many community activities and fun events in Lockerbie Square, many young professionals end up staying and growing roots in this Indianapolis neighborhood.
Things to Do in Lockerbie Square
Explore the neighborhood and its history at your own pace by taking a Lockerbie Square Self-Guided Walking Tour. Sweat it out during a cycle class at Rise House Fitness Studio. Pick up fresh flower arrangements at Watt’s Blooming. Support Black theatrical productions like DREAMGIRLS at the Indiana Performing Arts Centre. Start your morning with a Horchata Latte or London Fog, or finish the night with an Espresso Tini or Indigone cocktail at Parlor Public House. Order Mary’s Mandarin Nut Salad, Chicken Cordon Bleu, or the Nipper’s DLH sandwich during Jazz on the Patio at Ralph’s Great Divide. Swirl around a No Opposition Chardonnay, I Think Red Blend, or the 2015 Chambourcin during a tasting with friends at Easley Winery. Or cozy up next to the fireplace and herb wall while savoring Buttermilk Fried Chicken Thigh or Legacy Maker Black Angus Ribeye from the seasonal menu at Vida.
Meridian-Kessler
Photo via @mikefeldman_realtor
- Home Price: $385,000 median purchase price; $1,135 average monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 3% of Indianapolis neighborhoods
Located about 15 minutes north of Downtown Indy, Meridian-Kessler provides quick access to urban amenities like brewpubs, quirky bars, restaurants, and everything that singles and young professionals in Indianapolis could want. Yet, this Indy neighborhood is far enough away from downtown that residents can find quiet streets, plentiful green spaces, and spacious homes like Tudor and Craftsman-style cottages. Singles living in Meridian-Kessler will have plenty of opportunities to meet their neighbors during events like Mid-Week Market or over dinner and drinks during All-Neighborhood Meetings. Plus, this Indianapolis neighborhood is near Butler University, so singles and young professionals who want to continue their education or work for the university won’t have to go far!
Things to Do in Meridian-Kessler
Launch your startup or business from the first collaborative working space in Central Indiana, The Speak Easy. Sit in awe during opera performances like Carousel, Brundibar & Vedem or Don Giovanni at Indianapolis Opera. Buy vintage items from a mix of artists, crafters, and classic antique dealers at Vintage 54 Collective. Shop vinyl LPs, turntables, and merch at Luna Music. Dig into the classic Boomer’s Breakfast, The Full Boat, or The So-Bro Chicken at Good Morning Mama’s Café. Pair a Half Liter Cheeseburger with an on-tap beer like the Pirate Cat at Half Liter Beer & BBQ Hall. Share Aristocrat Beer-Cheese Dip, Chicken Gator Rolls, or Fried Green Tomato Caprese with coworkers at Aristocrat Pub & Restaurant. Or meet up with friends for a drink like Champagne Velvet, Juiced In Time, or Dragonfly IPA at Upland Brewing Company.
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Home prices from Redfin and RentCafe; crime rates from AreaVibes
