Welcome to Evansville. You just happen to be settling in in one of Kiplinger's top rated cities to "live, work, and play." Now let's find you an apartment so you can start doing just that.
Hey Evansville, Why All the Hype?
While Evansville is the 3rd largest city in Indiana, it's far from a bustling metropolis. With slightly over 115,000 people, Evansville has a small town feel with many of the amenities of a big city.
Okay, okay so Evansville is "great" and "dynamic" and has a lot going for it including 65 public parks, a quaint natural habitat zoo and Casino Aztar--the first riverboat casino in Indiana which draws a thousands of visitors each year.
How it Works
The main divide between Evansville neighborhoods--and for that matter, residents themselves--is the east/west distinction. Highway 41 bisects the city nearly down the middle and creates a clear boundary for the two disparate neighborhoods.
East Evansville has seen a large amount of development in recent years. Shopping centers, malls and tons of urban sprawl dominate commerce on this side of town. There is new construction of apartment buildings and and condos.
Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, and Evansville has many exceptions.
Evansville by the Numbers
A great way to understand what you're getting into in specific Evansville neighborhoods is to look at zip codes. Let's take a look, shall we?
Downtown - 47708
Evansville, like many Midwestern cities, is undergoing a push for redevelopment in its downtown. There are a number of luxuryesque condos, historical homes and apartments for rent downtown. Apartments in this region cost more than anywhere else in town. Expect to pay between $700-900 for a two bedroom here.
East Side - 47715, 47714, 47713
Right, so we've been over this. A high concentration of new development on the east side has made the rental market incredibly welcoming. A number of large developments, including the Village Green, Devinshire Place and Lakeshore Apartments, have rentals of all sizes with a variety of amenities available. For instance, the Lakeshore has a playground, swimming pool, clubhouse and fitness room for residents.
West Side - 47712
Most the rentals on the west side will be located in the 47712 zip code. One notable exception is the Brickyard development.
North - 47725, 47710
Okay, blah blah blah east side versus west side, what about the north side? Well, north side Evansville also has some desirable rentals. This area is slightly more suburban, so if you're in the market for a single-family home, this may be your neighborhood.
Prices for two bedrooms on the east, west and north side are quite similar, generally ranging from $550-700.
Tips for Snagging an Apartment in Evansville
Ask about application requirements before viewing apartments so you'll be as prepared as possible to secure your dream home.
Transportation
Unlike many of its Midwestern counterparts, Evansville is not too sprawling of a city. Getting around town tends to be fairly easy with a number of highways making the commute to the city center direct.
Evansville is also serviced by the METS, or Metropolitan Evansville Transit System, which operates 17 fixed bus routes throughout the city from 6:00 in the morning to midnight.
So welcome to town, friend. Whether you end up as a west lifer or not, Evansville has an apartment that's right for you.