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Indianapolis, Indiana is a great place to live, and the city I've been very proud to call home for nearly three decades. But don't take my word for it! Let's discuss the 8+ top reasons we love living in Indianapolis, if you're considering moving to Indy.  Disclosure: some of the links below are affiliate links. If you purchase a linked item, I will make a commission, at no extra charge to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Considering moving to Indianapolis? Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana (SPC) So you're considering moving to Indianapolis? Lucky you! I've had the pleasure of living in 'the Circle City' since 1993, with breaks for college and law school, and we happily returned to Indy to launch our careers and start our family. We've lived in three locations within Indy, during our time here: on the central canal in our first apartment, then we moved in the heart of downtown on Mass Ave in our lovely pre-baby condo, and a few years ago we moved up to Meridian Kessler (still within the city limits) to get a nice yard for the pup. Indianapolis is the 'Crossroads of America' and one of the larger Midwestern cities. It's is the perfect new home for the sports fanatic, as the city proudly plays host to a number of major sporting events, almost every year. We are by far the largest city in the Hoosier state and offer the benefits of a big city, with a small town feel, low cost of living, and the best airport in the country. So let's dive right in- here's why we love living in Indianapolis, both as a place to grow up, to spend your childless years, and to raise your own family - and what you need to know before moving to Indianapolis. Quick Facts about Indianapolis
All statistics, 2022 from: US Census Bureau, Indianapolis Resources for Moving to Indianapolis
Why We Love Living in Indianapolis:Low Cost of LivingThe first, and often most immediately positive, aspect everyone loves about Indianapolis is the very low cost of living, for a decently sized city. No, this is not New York City, nor will you pay a premium to live here. With the exception of rent, which is slightly high given how inexpensive houses are, the cost of living in Indianapolis is well below that national average. In fact, Indianapolis has "the fifth-lowest homeownership costs for a large metro area." [City of Indianapolis]. Want to see how far your money will go? Checkout the Nerdwallet Cost of Living Calculator, which helped me decide to pick Indy over DC after I graduated from law school and was choosing where to settle permanently. Accessible Professional Sports TeamsAnd with all that extra cash, you'll have plenty left over to spend on our endless parade of sporting events. Indianapolis is one of the biggest sports cities in the United States, with a special emphasis on college and amateur sports, Indianapolis is home to the NCAA administrative headquarters and museum, the NCAA Hall of Champions. On the professional front, we proudly boast our two 'major' league sports teams, the Indianapolis Colts, at the still stunning Lucas Oil Stadium, and the Indiana Pacers, at the recently and continually renovated Gainbridge Fieldhouse (modeled after the classic collegiate home of basketball, Hinkle Fieldhouse at Butler University, home of Hoosier Hysteria). Indy is also home to the Indianapolis Indians, our minor league baseball team, who serve as a feeder for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tickets are inexpensive and easily available, so plan to spend many a summer's evening out at Victory Field. We've also been building our soccer fan base, with the Indy Eleven, who are in the process of getting their own dedicated stadium, and we also have a hockey team who play at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, the Indy Fuel. Indianapolis regularly hosts large events like the Super Bowl and the NBA All Star Game, and continue to delight sports fans of all ages and teams. Not to mention, we proudly host the largest single-day sporting event in the world, The Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Memorial Day Weekend, which is a must-do for any new Hoosier. Wear your sunscreen, drink that water, and prepare for a LONG day you'll never forget! Easy Access to Downtown IndianapolisAs I mentioned, we spent 6+ years living in the heart of lovely Downtown Indianapolis, on both the central Canal and, much longer, on Mass Ave. Filled with young professionals, and linked by the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, downtown Indy is not only an ideal place to make your first home in Indianapolis, but also a wonderful place to spend your weekends once you have kids and move a little bit out of the center of town. We still spend *literally* every weekend downtown, and since there's very little traffic in our fair city, our home up near 49th Street is less than 20 minutes from downtown. And once we arrive, there's plenty of inexpensive, available parking. Don't want to drive? Uber and Lift aren't too expensive either, as the drive isn't too long. And we do have nascent public transit. IndyGo's Red Line connects Broad Ripple to downtown Indy. 15+ Things to Do in Indianapolis for Couples Is Indianapolis safe?One of the main questions I get from people looking to visit or move to Indianapolis is whether our city is safe. Unfortunately, Indianapolis, like many cities in the United States, suffers from a serious violence problem, which is confined to certain areas of the city, generally at specific times. That said, it has become a political hot potato, with politicians making the situation out to be much worse than it is for political gain. I encourage you to come visit our fair city and decide for yourself whether you enjoy staying with us (you will). Indy's a grid, friendsWhile we're on the subject of 'easy access,' one of the many aspects that makes Indianapolis extremely easy to navigate is its basic grid structure. Indianapolis was designed by Alexander Ralston, a Scottish surveyor who, after training under Pierre L'Enfant, co-designed Indianapolis Elias Pym Fordham. We think he did a great job, and my favorite Mass Ave bar is named after him (visit Ralston's!) As with DC, Indianapolis features a simple grid system, with both named and numbered streets, and a few random diagonal streets to mix things up. In Indy, those are Massachusetts Ave, Virginia Ave, Indiana Ave, and Kentucky Ave. Downtown Indianapolis is often referred to as "the Mile Square," which is bordered, unsurprisingly, by North, South, East, and West streets. The numbered streets go up from the Circle, and continue into the northern suburbs. It's easy, I promise. Indy's Food Scene The Fountain Room, Mass Ave, Indianapolis (JSB) I'm constantly saying, both on my blog and in person, that Indy deserves more a reputation as a food city. For a relatively small town, we have an active and creative food scene, with new restaurants popping up constantly. We even export some of our finest throughout the country. 15+ Must-Eat Restaurants in Indianapolis Outdoor Activities in Indianapolis Hiking at Fort Harrison, Indianapolis (JSB) When the weather cooperates, which is more often than you might expect - we don't actually get that much snow, Indianapolis residents make the most of any and all available outdoor activities. Love walking and biking? Like the rest of the Midwest, we love rails-to-trails, and have one of the longest, the Monon Trail, which connects the downtown area to Broad Ripple, and all the way up to the far northern suburbs of Carmel and Westfield. Love live music? Check out concerts at White River State Park and the concert series at Holliday Park, "Rock the Ruins." We have plenty of lovely parks, including Eagle Creek Park (and reservoir), and Fort Harrison State Park, for easy hiking (we don't have mountains, friends, but we make the most of what we have). Best Places to Live in Indianapolis
Indy's Excellent Museums The Children's Museum of Indianapolis (JSB) Indianapolis is home to a disproportionate number of excellent museums for its size, including Newfields (new name of the Indianapolis Museum of Art), the Indiana State Museum, and the largest children's museum in the world, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Want to know more? Check out my list of the 8+ Best Museums in Indianapolis. The Incredible Indianapolis International AirportConsistently voted one of the best in the country, the Indianapolis International Airport never fails to surprise and delight travelers. The first airport purpose-built post-2001, the security is efficient and actually makes sense because it didn't have to be jammed into an existing lobby. There are tons of food and beverage options, including a concerted effort to focus on local fare, and with just two terminals, you could easily walk between them to seek out the food of your choice. The Indy airport is clean, quick, and just so easy. No matter where I've been, the first thing I say when I land in Indy is, "Gosh I'm glad to be home." The Crossroads of AmericaAnd if you're looking for a road trips, they don't call Indianapolis "the Crossroads of America" for nothing! We Midwesterners love to drive, and there are plenty of fun destinations within a few easy hours of Indy. Want a few ideas? 20+ Easy, Family Road Trips Within 5 Hours of Indianapolis. Thanks for stopping by! Famous St Elmo's shrimp cocktail, Indianapolis (JSB) If you're considering moving to Indianapolis, I hope I've made a good case for my beloved hometown. We adore living in Indianapolis, and we know you will too! Please put your questions and thoughts about moving to Indy in the comment section below!
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