Considering moving to Indianapolis? With unique housing options, an abundance of family-friendly activities, and an affordable cost of living—the Indy metro is an excellent place for families to live. Check out these five best suburbs of Indianapolis for families!
Avon
- Home Price: $182,800 median purchase price; $963 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 50% of Indiana cities
Located on the western edge of the Indy metro, Avon is one of the top Indianapolis suburbs for raising kids! It’s a small yet bustling community that loves to get outdoors, as evidenced by its 30 public parks—including Washington Township Park and Pecar Park & Nature Center. The town also boasts fun, kid-friendly seasonal gatherings like Heartland Apple Festival and Enchanted Fairy Festival. Add to that top-notch local public schools like Maple Elementary School and Avon Intermediate School West, and it’s no wonder that Avon is one of the best suburbs of Indianapolis for families!
Things to Do in Avon
Stock the pantry with fresh produce and baked goods from the Avon Farmers Market. Play outdoor ping-pong and bocce ball, picnic with your loved ones, or go fishing at Avon Town Hall Park. Enjoy a serene hiking experience through the trees at Burnett Woods Nature Preserve—or have a family stroll among the unique plants featured at Avon Gardens. Take your taste buds on a trip to Greece with a Gyros Platter, Tigania, or Pork Shish Kebob at a great Greek restaurant in Indianapolis, OPA! Treat the family to Italian favorites like Chicken Fettuccine, Tortelloni Carbonara, and Margherita Pizza at Charbonos. Devour Japanese dishes made from fresh ingredients, such as the Cherry Blossom Roll, Dynamite Roll, or Chicken Katsu Box, at Hirosaki Japanese Steak House. Savor the flavors of Thai cuisine with dishes like Thai Pineapple Fried Rice, Yellow Curry, or Deep Fried Tilapia at Thai’s House.
Brownsburg
Photo via @trustedrealty1
- Home Price: $153,000 median purchase price; $1,024 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 80% of Indiana cities
Home to Lucas Oil Raceway, one of the top racetracks in the nation, Brownsburg is the perfect Indianapolis suburb for families who love motor sports! Of course, that’s not all this area has to offer. With a tight-knit community, vast local green spaces like Williams Park and Stephens Park, and top-rated public schools like Cardinal Elementary and Brownsburg High School—Brownsburg is one of the best places for families to live in Indianapolis! This peaceful Indy suburb offers a variety of charming ranches and Craftsman-style homes at affordable prices, making it a great place to settle down in.
Things to Do in Brownsburg
Go horseback riding along White Lick Creek or get up close with chickens, miniature goats, and other animals at Natural Valley Ranch. Find great indoor family activities in Indianapolis at places like Kid’s Planet—which has jungle gyms, an arcade, and multi-level playground! Play a game of basketball, hit the tennis courts, or jog along the shaded trail at Arbuckle Acres Park. Sign up for family bonding classes like Family Time: Bunny Tales, Crouching Tigers, or Preschool Storytime: Jump, Frog, Jump! at Brownsburg Public Library. Start your day off with Silver Dollar Pancakes, Crepe Creations, or a Strawberry Banana Split Waffle at Flap Jacks Pancake House. Feed the whole family with a giant 30-inch Big Noony Bacon Burger Pizza, Shnizz Calzones, or Baked Penne Pasta from Panoony’s Pizza & Wings. Chow down homemade dishes like Applewood Bacon Salmon, Baby Back Ribs, or Campfire Fettuccine at Boulder Creek—one of the best restaurants in Indianapolis. Or spend date night watching a Colts (NFL) game while savoring snacks like Pepper Jack Cheese Balls, Broasted Chicken, or Brickers Supreme Nachos at Brickers Pub.
Carmel
Photo via @woodsrealtygroup
- Home Price: $306,500 median purchase price; $1,132 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 91% of Indiana cities
Carmel is a family-friendly place to live in Indiana, ranking as one of the best small cities in America and one of the safest U.S. cities to raise children! Known for its picturesque streets, strong sense of community involvement, and extensive network of parks like Flowing Well Park and West Park, you can always find fun things to do in Carmel. Outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of the Monon Trail, a 25-mile bike path connecting this suburb with Downtown Indianapolis, as well as Westfield and Sheridan. Carmel also boasts one of the best school districts in Indiana, Carmel Clay Schools, which has received state and national recognition. To top it off, the area sports a stunning selection of Colonial, Craftsman, and ranch-style homes and puts on exciting community events like Carmel Winter Games and Carmel Jazz Fest.
Things to Do in Carmel
Explore the Carmel Arts & Design District—where you can see fine-scale miniature art at Museum of Miniature Houses, or take family-friendly classes at Magdalena Gallery of Art. Sign the little ones up for soccer leagues or take them to the indoor inflatable playground at Off The Wall Sports. Picnic in the pavilion, chase butterflies, and visit the Children’s Garden for outdoor play at Coxhall Gardens. Get tickets to a show like The Sound of Music, Alice in Wonderland, or Mean Girls at The Center for the Performing Arts. Order delicious brunch dishes like Hoosier Benedict, Cinnamon Raisin French Toast, or West Coast Sunrise Omelettes at Sahm’s Ale House. Enjoy delicious drinks like the Pistachi-Oat Latte or Honey Lavender Latte and pastries like Lemon Blueberry Parfait Muffins or Brown Sugar Cinnamon Hand Pies at Rose & Lois. Devour The “Big Ugly” One Pound burger, The “Settle for Less Ugly” Elk Quarter Pound burger, or The Bub Dog at Bub’s Burgers & Ice Cream. Or go outside the box for dinner with “sharing plates” like Pork Belly Bites, Corn Creme Brulee, and Bulgogi Steak Baos at divvy.
Fishers
Photo via @erinmhundley
- Home Price: $225,700 median purchase price; $1,133 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 89% of Indiana cities
Not only is Fishers one of the best places to live in the Indianapolis metro, but it’s also one of the safest cities for families in the U.S. Residents can choose from plenty of housing options with cozy Craftsman, Colonial, and Tudor-style homes priced at affordable rates. This Indy suburb has a welcoming vibe and a strong community, with events like the Fishers Farmers Market and the annual, weeklong Spark!Fishers festival. Fishers is also filled with parks, green spaces, and trails galore, including Billericay Park and the nine scenic walking trails at Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve. And with a growing job market and great public schools like Hoosier Road Elementary and Riverside Junior High, this Indianapolis suburb presents an appealing choice for families.
Things to Do in Fishers
Show the kids what life was like during pioneer times with hands-on historical activities and exhibits like Discovery Station and Animal Encounters at Conner Prairie. Gather your friends and family to catch free summer concert performances throughout June and July at Nickel Plate District Amphitheater. Take the family for a day of indoor fun on the Ninja Warrior Course, Ropes Course, and Climbing Wall at Adrenaline Family Adventure Park. Bowl the night away, game in the arcade, or watch sand volleyball games at Pinheads Bowling. Try to eat a giant Indiana Tenderloin or go for the classic Pepperoni & Sausage Flatbread at family-friendly Four Day Ray Brewing. Chow down mouthwatering dishes like a Jammin’ Bacon Burger, Smothered Chicken, or Heroes Sirloin at C.R. Heroes. Taste Korean dishes like Chicken Bulgogi, Kimchi Soup, or Bibim Bop at Cafe Korea. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a Waffle Bowl filled with ice cream flavors like Bananas Foster, Graham Canyon, or Midnight Madness at Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream.
Westfield
Photo via @woodsrealtygroup
- Home Price: $226,000 median purchase price; $1,154 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 88% of Indiana cities
If you’re looking for a close-knit community and a place to escape the bustle of a big city, Westfield may be the place for you! This suburban Indianapolis area is one of the safest places in the state, with plenty of unique Colonial and ranch-style homes with large yards. Not only does this Indy suburb offer an unemployment rate 50% lower than the national average, it also provides great schools like Maple Glen Elementary School, Westfield Middle School, and Westfield High School. This family-friendly Indianapolis suburb is far from sleepy, however. In addition to hosting fun, family-friendly community events like Jams at the Junction, Donut Trail, and Touch-A-Truck—Westfield is home to Grand Park Sports Campus, the largest youth sports complex in the U.S.!
Things to Do in Westfield
Sign up your little ones for baseball or softball camps at Roundtripper. Play an 18-hole or 36-hole round of miniature golf at Birdies Miniature Golf Course—or register the family for adult golf leagues and kids golf lessons at Wood Wind Golf Club. Burn off energy on the pickleball court, cool off at the splash park, or take a relaxing stroll through the gardens at Quaker Park. Satisfy your appetite with a Hoosier Hot Plate, Prime Rib, or Monon Burger at Grindstone on the Monon. Try seasonal menu items like the Veggie Burger Melt, Mac & Cheese, or Beef Bolognese at Field Brewing. Grab a plate of Davey Jones, Butchers Bill, or Saigon Special at Big Hoffa’s Smokehouse. Or sample rotating wines and enjoy live music while the kids expend their energy on the playground at Urban Vines Winery & Brewing Company.
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Suburb statistics from AreaVibes
