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Living in Indianapolis, IN

Big city in Indiana

Indianapolis is a big city in Indiana, home to about 882,000 people, with 1.7 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Indianapolis a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Strong healthcare: 12 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $226k and rents for $1,910 a month
  • Mild summers: highs around 82°F
  • Low natural disaster risk: 9 federally declared disasters since 2000

👎 Cons

  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
  • Few dog parks: 9 within 9 mi
  • Fewer family amenities than most places
  • Cloudier than most places

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Indianapolis ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
882,000
1.7 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
38°F / 82°F
Average daily highs · 26″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$226k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,910/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
96
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,275
State income tax per resident · 0.93% property tax
Safety
No data
Not in FBI 2019 city table
Natural disasters
9 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, tornadoes
Top-rated hospitals
12
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
34%
1 research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
IND
9 mi away

Living in Indianapolis: common questions

What is the cost of living in Indianapolis?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $226k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,910 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 96, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Indianapolis?

Indiana collects about $1,275 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.93% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Indianapolis safe?

Indianapolis isn't in the FBI's 2019 city crime table, so Best Life Fit Me counts its safety as average.

What is the weather like in Indianapolis?

Indianapolis has cold winters: winter days average around 38°F and summer days around 82°F, with roughly 26″ of snow a year.

Does Indianapolis get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and tornadoes: 9 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.59 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Indianapolis?

The nearest major airport is IND, about 9 mi away.

How Indianapolis scores

Each bar compares Indianapolis with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Big city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Urban & suburban mix Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Some transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Culture & nightlife Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cold winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Moderate pace Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Private AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Excellent
💸Low taxes Average
💼Job market Below average
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Average
🧸Kids & family Below average
🐕Dog-friendly Poor
⛰️Outdoors Poor
🎭Culture Good
🛡️Safety No crime data (counted as average)
🌪️Few natural disasters Good
☀️Sunny Below average
🌤️Mild summers Excellent
✈️Airport Good

Places like Indianapolis

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 23 aspects.

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Is Indianapolis right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.