The Pacers, the Colts, and thIndianapolis 500 have put Indianapolis on the map, but what really makes Naptown a standout city is its best neighborhoods. And lucky for you, HomeSnacks has done the work and created a list of the top ten best neighborhoods in Indianapolis for 2024 that’s going to keep this Indiana city on the map.
Many of Indianapolis’ best neighborhoods hail from the North side of the city, but you’re never really too far from any one of Indy’s great neighborhoods because it’s virtually impossible to get lost in the Circle City–Interstate 465 encircles the entire city like a clock. But, if you don’t read how we calculated the best neighborhoods in Indianapolis, you might find yourself up the White River without a paddle’. So, here it goes: to get a list of the best hoods in Indy, we looked at the latest census report for median income levels and median home prices for each one of Indianapolis’ 26 neighborhoods. This is our tenth time ranking Indianapolis’ best neighborhoods; so when we say the competition was fierce, we mean it. Subsequently, this forced us to take it a step further and assign a SnackAbility score for each neighborhood based on safety, affordability, jobs, and amenities to get the most accurate list.
Folks, you’ll be happy to know that if you want to live at 12 o’clock on the 465 dial, Cornerstone Place has great schools and the unemployment rate here is well below the national average. If you want to live close to downtown, the United Northwest neighborhood is close to everything Indy and one of the oldest Farmers’ Markets in Indiana. But, if you want the most bang for your buck, the United Northeast neighborhood has homes for $160,978.
Want to know what makes Indianapolis’ neighborhoods the best of the best in the Midwest? Below you’ll find a list of Indy’s top ten and a little bit about what makes them top notch, so keep reading.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
It wouldn’t be right if we didn’t mention that the city has experienced its fair share of unforeseen situations that have kept Indianapolis’s crime rate quite a bit above the national average; but, not in Indy’s best neighborhoods. Matter of fact, neighborhoods like Reserve at Spring Hill and Orchard Estates are reporting some of the best numbers they’ve seen in years. But, there’s one Indy neighborhood that really takes the cake.
So, what is the best neighborhood in Indianapolis for 2024? Well, according to the latest data and our SnackAbility algorithm, Riley is the best.
We invite you to wander on down, like Midwesterners Wander Indiana, to see how the rest of Indianapolis’ neighborhoods ranked; and if you don’t find what you’re looking for there, head to the bottom.
For more Indiana reading, check out:
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Indianapolis
1. Riley
Population: 20,609
Median Home Value: $417,719 (Second best)
Median Income: $46,378 (Tenth best)
More on Riley: Real Estate
2. Fletcher Place
Population: 2,888
Median Home Value: $216,744 (Eighth best)
Median Income: $63,442 (Eighth best)
More on Fletcher Place: Real Estate
3. Lockerble Square
Population: 978
Median Home Value: $419,768 (best)
Median Income: $35,767 (15th best)
More on Lockerble Square: Real Estate
4. Fountain Square
Population: 450
Median Home Value: $107,135 (16th best)
Median Income: $24,006 (24th best)
More on Fountain Square: Real Estate
5. Mapelton
Population: 8,280
Median Home Value: $151,149 (13th best)
Median Income: $41,727 (12th best)
More on Mapelton: Real Estate
6. Kingpark
Population: 10,091
Median Home Value: $193,161 (11th best)
Median Income: $41,700 (13th best)
More on Kingpark: Real Estate
7. Southeast
Population: 26,972
Median Home Value: $78,282 (18th best)
Median Income: $31,306 (19th best)
More on Southeast: Real Estate
8. Martindale
Population: 10,141
Median Home Value: $77,593 (19th best)
Median Income: $24,851 (23rd best)
More on Martindale: Real Estate
9. Indy East
Population: 43,511
Median Home Value: $73,301 (22nd best)
Median Income: $32,375 (17th best)
More on Indy East: Real Estate
10. Irvington
Population: 5,534
Median Home Value: $136,339 (14th best)
Median Income: $50,475 (Ninth best)
More on Irvington: Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Indianapolis, IN Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Indianapolis, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 26 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Indianapolis.” We’re lookin’ at you, Riley.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Indianapolis, Indiana has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Indianapolis.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Indianapolis
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Indianapolis where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Indianapolis are Riley, Fletcher Place, Lockerble Square, Fountain Square, Mapelton, Kingpark, Southeast, Martindale, Indy East, and Irvington.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Indianapolis aren’t all good. West Indianapolis takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Indianapolis.
The worst neighborhoods in Indianapolis are West Indianapolis, Pogue’s Run, Reserve at Spring Mill, Bos, and Cornerstone Place.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more Indiana reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Indianapolis For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riley | 20,609 | $417,719 | $46,378 |
| 2 | Fletcher Place | 2,888 | $216,744 | $63,442 |
| 3 | Lockerble Square | 978 | $419,768 | $35,767 |
| 4 | Fountain Square | 450 | $107,135 | $24,006 |
| 5 | Mapelton | 8,280 | $151,149 | $41,727 |
| 6 | Kingpark | 10,091 | $193,161 | $41,700 |
| 7 | Southeast | 26,972 | $78,282 | $31,306 |
| 8 | Martindale | 10,141 | $77,593 | $24,851 |
| 9 | Indy East | 43,511 | $73,301 | $32,375 |
| 10 | Irvington | 5,534 | $136,339 | $50,475 |
| 11 | Far Eastside | 11,421 | $85,365 | $44,605 |
| 12 | Westside | 27,239 | $61,476 | $31,634 |
| 13 | Foxwood | 7 | $201,083 | $71,339 |
| 14 | Meridian Meadows | 54 | $218,130 | $66,250 |
| 15 | Concord | 199 | $122,226 | $378 |
| 16 | Green Pastures | 6 | $218,130 | $66,250 |
| 17 | Near North | 5,352 | $71,996 | $39,330 |
| 18 | United Northwest | 18,138 | $64,058 | $28,850 |
| 19 | Lexington Farms | 276 | $243,046 | $68,727 |
| 20 | Orchard Estates | 24 | $243,046 | $91,552 |
| 21 | United Northeast | 30,609 | $76,454 | $26,548 |
| 22 | Cornerstone Place | 30 | $218,130 | $77,256 |
| 23 | Bos | 4,853 | $76,140 | $20,135 |
| 24 | Reserve At Spring Mill | 56 | $204,420 | $140,861 |
| 25 | Pogue’s Run | 370 | $157,128 | $35,354 |
| 26 | West Indianapolis | 16,238 | $53,428 | $30,536 |