5 Best Places to Live in Indiana

If you’re interested in moving to the Hoosier State, a state known for its love of basketball, you’ll be faced with the challenge of figuring out where to live. With so many incredible cities to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming for anyone just beginning their searches.

Thankfully, we’re here to help. We want to help you begin your Indiana apartment search by helping you narrow down your options and choosing your ideal city, which is why we’ve created this guide to help you learn more about the best places to live in Indiana and find the best city for you!

1. Indianapolis

• Population: 876,384
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $1,071
• Median Household Income: $47,873
• Walk Score: 31
• Transit Score: 23
• Bike Score: 45

The Circle City, the nickname given to the state capital of Indiana, Indianapolis, is known as an incredible city to visit and an even better place to call home. The town has an unbeatable blend of recreational trails, college and professional sports, and the world’s largest children’s museum, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

The big-city style is readily available downtown, which is easily walkable, perfect for those looking for a more urban vibe. Indy’s top attractions include the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and the Central Canal.

Indianapolis has 11 professional sports teams and three National Collegiate Athletic Association teams, which is a huge draw for sports fans! Fans can make a trip downtown to the Lucas Oil Stadium, home to the Indianapolis Colts, winners of the 2007 Super Bowl. Every Memorial Day weekend, spectators can head to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to catch the Indianapolis 500, also known as the Indy 500.

People from across the United States started migrating towards Indianapolis because it is known as one of the more affordable big cities in the country. In the first quarter of 2021, the most significant migration to Indianapolis came from Chicago, Illinois making up an astonishing 11.4% of the moves into the city. Behind Chicago was Lafayette, Louisiana, at 5.5%, and Bloomington, California, at 4.1%.

Check out the thousands of apartments available for rent now in Indianapolis.

2. Fort Wayne

• Population: 270,402
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $893
• Median Household Income: $49,411
• Walk Score: 30
• Transit Score: 22
• Bike Score: 47

Fort Wayne is a mid-sized metropolitan Indiana city known for its low cost of living paired with quiet suburbs. In Fort Wayne, you can quickly launch a business, raise your children, or start a booming career. Being in the heart of the Midwest allows Fort Wayne residents to have easy access to a lot of the amenities found in larger urban areas.

Some of the most popular things to do in the city include visiting the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, catching a baseball game at Parkview Field, or finding a good read at the Allen County Public Library. Nature lovers can stroll through the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, which showcases various indoor exhibits, including tropical, desert, and seasonal plants.

The city is home to a handful of fun and quirky events like the annual bed race during the Three Rivers Festival or the yearly BuskerFest devoted entirely to street performers.

Despite having a wide range of activities for all ages, Fort Wayne sticks to its roots as one of the most religious places in the nation. With a wide range of churches and Amish communities, Fort Wayne welcomes all. Continuing the trend of maintaining tradition, one of the oldest Native American structures in the United States is Fort Wayne.

Check out the hundreds of apartments available for rent now in Fort Wayne.

3. Evansville

• Population: 119,979
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $957
• Median Household Income: $40,178
• Walk Score: 42
• Transit Score: --
• Bike Score: 47

The third most populated city in Indiana, following Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, is Evansville. In Vanderburgh County, this city is the central city of the Illinois-Indiana-Kentucky tri-state area, with a wide variety of medical, commercial, and cultural activities throughout city lines.

Evansville offers its residents a plethora of exciting activities for all ages. There are countless museums in the city. Some of the favorites are the USS LST Ship Memorial, the Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science, and the Children’s Museum of Evansville.

If you’re looking to get outdoors, the Department of Parks and Recreation in Evansville oversees a total of 21 recreational facilities and 67 parks throughout the city, totaling over 2500 acres of land. Evansville’s top parks and nature activities include the Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden, the Wesselman Woods Nature Center, and the Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife Area.

The city is a great place to raise a family, as many of the public schools are some of the better schools in the state. Some of the top public schools serving Evansville include Signature School, Henderson County South Middle School, and North High School. The better parts of the city, especially for families, are the far west side, the far east side, and the north side.

Check out the apartments available for rent now in Evansville.

4. Carmel

• Population: 101,068
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $1,666
• Median Household Income: $112,765
• Walk Score: 17
• Transit Score: --
• Bike Score: 55

The suburbs of Carmel, Indiana, are found immediately north of the state capital, Indianapolis. The city has been nicknamed the Roundabout Capital of the United States because it has 128 roundabouts constructed since 1998. Ironically, Carmel was the first city in the state to have an electronic automatic traffic signal.

Carmel residents are often affluent and well educated, and the city was named one of the best places to live in the country multiple times over. Not only is Carmel one of the best places to launch a new career in the country, but it has also been recognized repeatedly for being one of the safest places as well.

Some of the fun things to do around Carmel include walking along the Monon Rail Trail leading to Indianapolis, cooling down at the waterpark at the Monon Community Center, or enjoying a wine tasting from the Peace Water Winery off the I-65.

The artsy folk will love Carmel, with so many different opportunities to enjoy the craft. The Carmel Arts and Design District, the Center for the Performing Arts, and the art on Main Gallery are some of the local favorites to check out from time to time.

History lovers enjoy the fact that multiple locations in the city have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Carmel Monon Depot, the John Kinzer House, and the Thornhurst Addition.

Check out the hundreds of apartments available for rent now in Carmel.

5. South Bend

• Population: 102,206
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $1,077
• Median Household Income: $40,265
• Walk Score: 43
• Transit Score: --
• Bike Score: 60

South Bend, Indiana, is most widely recognized as the home of the University of Notre Dame. The city got its name from its geographic location nestled on the St. Joseph River near the most southern bend. South Bend’s population count has been a rollercoaster since the first settlements in the early 19th century by fur traders. Today, it sees a spike in population once again as it has begun redevelopment as a technology center at Ignition Park.

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame is nationally ranked amongst a wide variety of sports, making a living in this city a lot of fun for anyone interested in catching some events. The women’s cross country is ranked third in the nation, men’s cross country sixth, women’s soccer sixth, men’s volleyball tenth, and men’s football fourteenth.

However, the city of South Bend has so much more to offer than collegiate level sports, including the Studebaker National Museum, which displays the rise of the American automobile industry, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, and the 100-year-old Morris Performing Arts Center.

The downtown area of South Bend is located in the central-northern area of the city, right along the St. Joseph River. Here you can find a wide assortment of entertainment, attraction, retailers, and dining options. Choose from over 50 different restaurants and cafes spanning varying cuisines like Japanese and Italian.

Check out the apartments available for rent now in South Bend.

Final Thoughts - Where Should I Move to in Indiana?

No matter what you are looking for in Indiana, whether it be a space along the water of the St. Joseph River in South Bend or the hustle of a more metropolitan area like Indianapolis, there's something there for everyone. Thankfully, some of the best places to live in Indiana are still reasonably priced.

So, if you are interested in moving to Indiana, now might be a good time to start your research. First, find out more about the cost of living in Indiana. Next, register with Apartment List today and start checking out the thousands of available apartments to rent in Indiana!