Moving to Indiana?

I am moving to the Indianapolis area in a few months for work. I was wondering which suburbs will offer safety, affordable housing (under 200k), and good schools? Which areas should I avoid?

There are several nice suburbs surrounding Indy, and they don't have to cost an arm or a leg. I would avoid Speedway. It is absolutely crazy during race time (but you can make a fortune parking cars in your front yard!).

The suburb I live in is on the SW side of Indy - Camby. Camby is in the tri-county area - where Marion County, Hendricks County, and Morgan County meet. I'm on the Marion County side. You can get a brand new beautiful spacious home for under 200K, and an existing one for less.

On the Marion County side, it is Decatur Township schools. They are very nice schools - my grandkids go there. We are but a few minutes from the interstates, and from shopping (Metropolis in Plainfield - so cool). It has a country feel, but is close to everything. Car insurance is also cheaper, because we're outside the I-465 loop.

On the west side, but actually in Indianapolis, the Wayne township schools are quite good. Ben Davis High School is a great school.

Zionsville is quite nice, but it is expensive. Greenwood (far south side) is quite nice as well - I lived there for a while also.

I'd avoid the East side. Not only is it a higher crime area, but with the construction on I-70, it would be a killer to get to work unless you lived close enough that you wouldn't need the interstate system.

Northside is quite pricey.

Hope it helps - and welcome to Indy!

avoid the east side... i live in brownsburg and it has a great school, i grad in 2003, the neighborhood are all nice, nothing it really run done and they are always new subdivisions going up. there is also avon and plainfield which are similiar to brownsburg. I would stay away from speedway, anywhere associated with indianapolis can be kinda gruesome. Brownsburg also has plenty of places to eat, shop, nice resturants, hotels, 2 parks with great playgrounds and trails to take kids too if you have any. So check it out, you wont regret it.

It's all relative.

First of all, it depends where you are coming from. What is a "good school?" What is "safe?" If you're coming from Montana versus New York City your view on these things will be very different.

Traffic is not that bad. It's always moving unless there's a disastrous wreck. For a big city Indy has the best traffic flow. If you're working downtown, you can pretty much live in any suburb you want...although the northeast side is very, very congested.

Good schools...Zionsville has the best public schools. Carmel is another good school, and Noblesville and Brownsburg are not too bad. Lots of private schools available too, lots of good quality. And honestly, the north side within the city limits (north of 62nd St in Washington Township) has good schools too.

So sub-200K housing is available everywhere, but that depends on how much space you need. How many square feet? How many bedrooms? How much of a yard do you want? Generally the further north you go the more expensive it gets, but you get what you pay for...

Best of luck, Indy is a nice place.

Indy is great you will have a nice time, there is various housing all around the city you should be able to find something nice under 200k no problem. With any city there are problems everywhere, so you will just have to go look around ahead of the family or with the family cause they have some nice hotels around as well. Once you get settled down you will love it there is alot to do. You may want to ask you future employer and you are doing the right thing by talking and enquiring with people. Take your time and continue to ask questions, you will be fine.

Where to move will really depend on where you will work. I live in the Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville area and absolutely love it.

Housing isn't really a problem, there are a ton of homes available all over for under $200,000. My only real advice would be to stay out of Marion County, or at the very least outside of 465. Pull out a map of Indianapolis. 465 runs around town in a big circle. Live outside that circle, and you will be in pretty good shape.