No national average can tell you the whole Indianapolis story

Ever fly to another airport, get off the plane and walk into the terminal to be greeted by a giant banner proclaiming the airport is "the number one" of something? Airports have lots of ways to boast. Indianapolis International is routinely rated "Best Airport in North America", and it is genuinely terrific—in its passenger service class and in North America. Look close, though, and you'll see Denver claims "best of the biggest", LaGuardia is the "best new airport", you get the idea.

National rankings and averages, surveys, think pieces, and news OpEds aren't a great measure for any airport. There’s always some other metric or angle to counter just about anything. The same goes for entire cities. Accolades and awards are a great way to generate buzz, but they can’t tell you what life is really like in a town. 

It's hard to distill a region like Indianapolis or Central Indiana and two million people into a singular ranking because cities are unique and complex. Every city has its own history, development patterns, cultures, and preferences that make comparisons hard.

The truth is Indianapolis is a lot of things. Living here is a lot of what you make it.

Indy is a sports fan paradise

Back in the '80s, Indianapolis leaders made a concerted effort to become "the amateur sports capital of the world", leaning on the already world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We built Olympic-quality velodromes and pools, set about securing the NCAA headquarters, and did the sort of long-range planning that makes a city a destination. 

Thirty years later and Indy's full of venues like Lucas Oil Stadium for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, a Fieldhouse for the NBA's Indiana Pacers and WNBA's Indiana Fever, and homes for other sports teams like Indy Eleven soccer, Indianapolis Indians baseball, and even hockey. 

It’s not just pro or semi-pro sports, either: Circle City Athletics hosts adult rec leagues that are extremely popular, fun, and exercise your mind and body. It's also a great way to meet new people. Indy has you covered whether you want to watch the NFL or play Pickleball with a few neighbors.

Indy has some truly remarkable parks

I'm not even sure most people living in Indianapolis know Eagle Creek Park is among the country's top ten largest city parks. 1,400 acres of water surrounded by 3,900 acres of land, including about 10 miles of paths, make for a great day trip outdoors—and it's just a few miles away for most residents. For comparison, Central Park in New York is 843 acres and Golden Gate Park in San Francisco is 1,017 acres.

For the little ones, lots of neighborhood parks, playgrounds, playscapes, and trails are expanding across Indianapolis. Some, like Riley Children's Health Sports Legends Experience have accessible playground equipment, too.

Two of my favorite parks are on the north side of Indianapolis. Marrott Park is a nature reserve just north of Broad Ripple that winds around the White River. A new boardwalk is being built and plans have long circulated about ways to make it into a beach. But today it’s a gorgeous little nature preserve with trails that are perfect for dog walks. My dog Penny loves meeting other dogs on their daily walks there.

Holliday Park is another favorite of mine. It features trails, a nature center, plenty of outdoor seating, and “the ruins”, which is full of beautiful Greek and Roman-inspired architecture. Located along Meridian Street, Holiday Park is worth a visit even if you’re just passing through town.

Indy has made huge advancements in public transportation in the last ten years

IndyGo, the Indianapolis public transportation agency, has made major moves over the past few years. Now there's a comfortable, centralized transit hub Downtown, significant route adjustments to increase frequency, and the first of three bus rapid transit lines—the Red Line—is now operating. It runs straight from Broad Ripple and connects lots of great neighborhoods like SoBro, Warfleigh, and Meridian Kessler with Downtown Indy, Fountain Square, and south to the University of Indianapolis.

After years of criticism about poor public transportation service, things are moving quickly. The Purple Line is under construction right now. The Blue Line is slated to begin construction in a couple of years, which will connect the east and west sides of town. BRT looks and behaves “like a train on wheels” with dedicated lanes and traffic signals, but at a fraction of the cost of a monorail or subway.

Poor public transportation has environmental costs and severely limits people with mobility issues. IndyGo is among the biggest forces in town for sustainable development and carbon offsets for future generations not just in transit, but in calm, quiet streets, pedestrian safety, and bicycle infrastructure.

Downtown Indy and many neighborhoods are historic, interesting, and full of housing options

People are living in Indianapolis today who hardly ever or maybe never go Downtown. And you know what, that's okay because some people want to live Downtown, some people just want to work Downtown and head back home, and others want to explore nightlife and music venues and coffee shops or find a great restaurant closer to their home.

But the surprising thing is you can do all those things across the city. Indy is a big city by geography as well as population, which means lots of people living in Indianapolis support their favorite unique restaurants and great schools in their neighborhoods without commuting to one central spot every day or weekend.

Indy has a robust job market with several major companies and other unique employers

Most people have heard of Eli Lilly and tech companies like Salesforce and Angie's List (now "Angi"). Healthcare and biosciences are a big deal here, too, with lots of career opportunities for people in the health, life sciences, and medical sciences industries. Regionally, Indiana is the country’s leading manufacturer of medical devices and hardware, like artificial joints and testing equipment.

Plus, Indianapolis is one of a few major U.S. cities that's also a state capital. That means lots of job opportunities in the public and non-profit sectors and a boost to economic stability without relying on one or two large employers.

Indy’s neighborhoods are booming

Indiana University operates IUPUI, a combined IU and Purdue University campus just west of Downtown Indy, making it a destination for students. Butler, the University of Indianapolis, Marian University, and others are all dotted around town, too. But Indy certainly doesn’t feel like a traditional college town. Among all those students walking around town are executives in suits and chefs and thousands of other professionals.

As people (and dogs!) strive to stay active and healthy, options in walkable, urban neighborhoods like Fountain Square, Chatham Arch, and Holy Cross are great options. Downtown Indy is a neighborhood unto itself, too, with lots of options in condos, new home construction, historic homes, and fixer-uppers. You’ll see parents and grandparents out with kids walking around tree-lined streets around Broad Ripple and much of the north side. 

Some places like Speedway and Southport have their own small-town vibe precisely because they are their own small town.

Historic neighborhoods like Mapleton-Fall Creek and Meridian-Kessler give Indianapolis a sense of place in time and history. Irvington kicks this up a notch every year with Halloween ghost tours. You can almost feel Lincoln’s ghost train and the spooky ghosts hovering around.

Living in Indianapolis is what you make of it

Indianapolis is a lot of things. It's a sports town! It’s a college town! It's a big city! No, it's a major city! It's a racing capital dedicated to speed...but everything has a slower pace of life with a small-town feel. It's got a great food scene, food trucks, an amazing children's museum, a huge art museum and library system, a low cost of living, friendly nature, and a tight-knit community full of Hoosier hospitality.

Indianapolis is a great city that's all of those things. It's not for everyone and isn't trying to be. The Indianapolis area has enough without having too much. Like any great place to call home, Indianapolis is what you make of it.

Looking for a place in Indy to call home?

Out of towners looking to relocate to Indianapolis for work, school, or just a change of pace should contact me. No risk and no obligation. I’m happy to answer questions about life in Indy, home prices, and all the amenities our city has to offer. I’m a little biased, but I think you’ll love it here, too!