Best Suburbs in Indianapolis for Families

Considering moving to Indianapolis? The Indy metro is an excellent place for families to live, thanks to the affordable cost of living, wide range of housing options, and abundance of family-friendly activities. If you’re looking for the best Indianapolis suburbs for families, check out these five!

• Avon
• Brownsburg
• Carmel
• Fishers
• Westfield

Avon

Photo via @talk_to_chris

• Home Price: $182,800 median purchase; $963 median monthly rent
• Crime Rate: Safer than 60% of Indiana cities

Located about 30 minutes outside of the city on the western edge of the metro, Avon is one of the top Indianapolis suburbs for raising kids! It’s a small but growing community that loves to get outdoors, as evidenced by its 30 public parks. In addition, Avon offers excellent public schools for local kids, such as Maple Elementary School and Avon Intermediate School West.

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 at Avon Town Hall Park. Lace up some roller skates and race around the rink at Hot Skates. Take a peaceful stroll among the unique plants featured at Avon Gardens. Feast on barbecue and scramble through inflatable obstacle courses at the Hendricks County Rib Fest. Channel your artistic side with a drawing or oil painting class at Sketch Pad Art Academy. Take your taste buds on a quick trip to Greece with a Gyros Platter and Pork Shish Kabob from Opa! Or treat the family to Italian favorites like Chicken Fettuccine and Tuscan Penne at Charbanos.

Brownsburg

Photo via @brownsburghomesrealty

• Home Price: $153,000 median purchase; $1,024 median monthly rent
• Crime Rate: Safer than 74% of Indiana cities

Home to Lucas Oil Raceway, 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 nearby, 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!

Things to Do in Brownsburg

See some of the world’s best drag racers during the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Spend an afternoon fishing, hiking, or biking at Eagle Creek Park. Challenge the daredevil in your family to brave the zip line at Go Ape adventure park. Go horseback riding along White Lick Creek at Natural Valley Ranch. Start your day off with a Pancake Sandwich at Flap-Jacks Restaurant. Please the whole family with a giant 30-inch Big Noony pizza from Panoony’s Pizza & Wings. Or watch a Colts game with some local brews and pub fare at Brickers Pub.

Carmel

Photo via @woodsrealtygroup

• Home Price: $306,400 median purchase; $1,132 median monthly rent
• Crime Rate: Safer than 94% of Indiana cities

Though the cost of living is a bit higher in Carmel, you won’t find a better Indianapolis suburb to settle down in! Carmel is recognized as one of the best places to raise a family in the Midwest and as the top suburban city in the U.S. What earns Carmel such high praise? It’s one of the safest U.S. cities to raise children, boasts a median household income of $106,546, and offers all kinds of kid-friendly activities and community events.

Things to Do in Carmel

Witness a mix of traditional, contemporary, and abstract artwork at the galleries of the Carmel Arts & Design District. Get the kids out of the house and onto the basketball courts, bike trails, and playground at Cool Creek Park. Attend performances by nationally-acclaimed artists, musicians, and dance groups at The Center for the Performing Arts. Squeeze in a workout while the kids splash at the waterpark at Monon Community Center. Go outside the box for dinner with Pork Belly Bites and Duck Tenders at divvy. Try chef-inspired dishes like Balsamic Salmon and Bison Meatloaf in a transformed library at Woodys Library Restaurant. Or snag a Madden Mule or Mai Tai PA and catch up on the day’s sporting events at Brophy’s Tavern.

Fishers

Photo via @erinhundleyrealestate

• Home Price: $225,700 median purchase; $1,133 median monthly rent
• Crime Rate: Safer than 90% 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 best places to live in the U.S. Fishers offers residents reasonable living costs, a growing job market, and great public schools like Hoosier Road Elementary and Riverside Junior High, so it’s no wonder that it’s often recognized as one of the best places for families in Indiana!

Things to Do in Fishers

Show the kids what life was like during pioneer times with hands-on historical activities at Conner Prairie. Join a Couple’s League or practice with an indoor simulator at Gray Eagle Golf Course. Race your neighbors in a 5K and take part in the massive parade during Spark Fishers. Rent a kayak or pontoon boat and get out on the water at Geist Marina. Try to eat an Indiana Tenderloin the size of your head at Four Day Ray Brewing. Thrill the little ones with Tatem’s Nutella & Strawberry Sandwich while you enjoy Cajun Rub Tuna Steak at Pure Eatery. Or satisfy your sweet tooth with a Waffle Bowl from Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream.

Westfield

Photo via @woodsrealtygroup

• Home Price: $226,000 median purchase; $1,154 median monthly rent
• Crime Rate: Safer than 86% of Indiana cities

About 30 minutes north of Indianapolis, Westfield is a sanctuary if you’re looking to escape the bustle of the big city. It’s far from a sleepy suburb, however. Grand Park—the largest youth sports complex in the U.S.—alone makes this suburb stand out for families. But that’s not all that Westfield has to its name. It’s also one of the safest places in the state and has an unemployment rate 50% lower than the national average.

Things to Do in Westfield

Snag autographs from the stars and see your favorite NFL players in action during Indianapolis Colts Training Camp. Polish up your short game at Wood Wind Golf Club. Experience Indiana’s natural beauty with a walk or bike ride down the Monon Trail. Burn off energy scaling the climbing dome at Quaker Park. Sample rotating wines and enjoy live music at Urban Vines Winery & Brewing Company. Satisfy your hearty appetite with Biscuits & Gravy and a Tall Stack o’ Pancakes from Erika’s Place. Try the Veggie Burger or the Forage Porridge at Field Brewing. Or catch some football games with friends while digging into a Hoosier Mac Burger at Stacked Pickle.

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