Discover Indianapolis, IN’s, Thriving Suburbs
Check out these six Indy suburbs that are growing.
While mega suburbs like Carmel and Fishers are frequently in the spotlight, several up-and-coming communities around Indianapolis, IN, offer amazing recreational opportunities, world-class dining, a low cost of living, and, of course, that lovely Midwest charm.
Read on as we race around the Circle City and make a few pit stops in some of the fastest-growing suburbs in Indianapolis.
In This Article
Shelbyville
While the Horseshoe Indianapolis casino often comes to mind when people think about Shelbyville, this growing town southeast of Indianapolis harbors a tightknit community that’s full of quality-of-life amenities.
“There’s a misconception where people think Shelbyville is an hour-and-a-half away from Indy. It’s actually only 30 minutes,” says Jenna Martin, event coordinator for Mainstreet Shelbyville, a nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing and promoting the historic downtown.
“We just revitalized our entire downtown over the last two years,” Martin says. “There are four grass quadrants downtown and two pavilions where we hold a bunch of family-friendly festivals. Just this past week, we had the Wine Walk, which brought 2,000 people to downtown Shelbyville.”
Local events include the Taste of Shelby County, Brewfest, the Shelby County Farmers Market, and the First Friday Free Concert series. Residents cool off in the summer at the Meridian Park Family Aquatic Center, bike on the Blue River Trail, and hike through 48 acres of old-growth forest in Meltzer Woods. You can even go cliff diving and zip lining at White Rock Park in neighboring St. Paul.
Martin says over 400 new homes are planned for Shelbyville over the next year to accommodate a growing population. Major employers in the area include Ryobi Die Casting, Knauf Insulation and Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Local eateries include Capone’s, a downtown speakeasy with live music and karaoke, Cagney’s Pizza King, and The Bookmark Coffee and Company, more commonly referred to as Three Sisters by locals.
“If you want to know what’s going on in town, you go to Three Sisters, take a seat at the bar, grab a coffee, and then you can hear what’s going on in the entire town,” Martin says.
Noblesville
Located a short drive north of Indy in Hamilton County, Noblesville offers small-town charm and amenities that rival much larger cities.
You can’t miss Noblesville’s Historic Square, which is filled with unique shops, boutiques, restaurants and Victorian-era architecture. The square serves as a gathering place for community events, festivals, concerts and fine dining. The Nesst of Noblesville, located on the square, is the perfect spot for date night, as it was recently named Indy’s Best Romantic Restaurant.
Noblesville’s many attractions offer a little something for everyone, including:
- Forest Park: Noblesville’s oldest park boasts 150 acres of mature trees and hiking trails, tennis courts, a skate park, a newly designed playground, a carousel and mini golf course, a public pool, baseball and softball diamonds, and a public, nine-hole golf course.
- Hamilton Town Center: The massive outdoor lifestyle and shopping mall includes nearly 700,000 square feet of popular shops, restaurants and a movie theater. Retailers include Total Wine, GameStop, Home Grown Indiana, rue21, Three Dog Bakery, and many more.
- Ruoff Music Center: The massive 24,000-capacity amphitheater attracts major artists of all genres throughout the summer and fall.
- Morse Park and Beach: Morse Reservoir is a popular spot for boating, while Morse Beach provides a perfect place to dip your toes in the sand and swim. The park also features an 18-hole disc golf course, hiking trails, picnic shelters and playgrounds.
- Federal Hill Commons: This urban park plays host to the Noblesville Farmers Market, Concerts at the Commons, Food Truck Fridays, an ice skating rink, and other fun events.
Greenwood
Located on Indy’s southern border is Greenwood, the state’s 12th largest city. Greenwood has seen its population rise 33% since 2010. Families are flocking here for its new developments, close proximity to parks, and abundance of mom-and-pop restaurants and coffee shops.
“With Greenwood being a suburb just 20 minutes from downtown Indy, there’s a lot of draw for families. All three school districts in Greenwood are A-rated,” says Paige Bell, a Greenwood resident and Indyfluencer for the Indy Chamber’s Life in Indy initiative.
In 2021, the city announced an $83 million investment to revitalize Old Town Greenwood. The investment aims to make the Old Town more walkable while adding 18,000 square feet for restaurants and retail, as well as new apartments and condos, including The Madison, the city’s first luxury apartment building.
“What’s cool is Old Town has this historic presence, but also has a modern twist now with these new businesses coming in,” Bell says. “And it’s all very walkable. We love taking our son to City Center Park. There’s also the Greenwood Amphitheater, which hosts a summer and fall concert series right downtown.”
While Greenwood may be known for its abundance of parks, playgrounds and public spaces, Bell says visitors and residents shouldn’t sleep on the local food options.
“Greenwood is honestly a great foodie city,” Bell says. “Some of our favorites include the family-owned Italian restaurant named La Trattoria that’s in the downtown Greenwood area and Vino Villa, which has this beautiful garden, all sorts of outside dining, and really great wine. There’s also SmockTown Brewery, which was our name before we became Greenwood.”
Other popular local restaurants include the upscale American eatery Revery, as well as Strange Brew Coffee and Oaken Barrel Brewing Company.
Notable Greenwood events include the summer Freedom Festival, Movies in the Park, the Community CampOut, and Pickleball & Pints. Beginning in 2023, the city will debut the Lighted Trail in Amphitheater Park, which showcases over 40,000 holiday lights.
Fortville
Located 40 minutes northeast of Indianapolis, the small town of Fortville continues to grow, as homebuyers seek ample housing and wide-open spaces beyond nearby suburbs like Fishers and McCordsville.
Originally named Walpole, the town was renamed to Fortville in 1865. Fortville’s small, yet charming downtown features several local restaurants and breweries, including Taxman Fortville, FoxGardin Kitchen & Ale, Denver’s Garage Pizza and Brews, Cortona’s Italian Cuisine & Wine Bar, and the Broadway Diner.
Popular events throughout the year include the annual Summerfest 5K, Pints in the Park, and Winterfest. Fortville has two community parks, including the massive Memorial Park, which features multiple playgrounds, pickleball and tennis courts, a skate park, hiking trails and a sledding hill. The park provides T-ball and Little League for the kids and hosts an adult softball league.
Brownsburg
Speaking of racing, Brownsburg sits just 10 miles from Indianapolis Motor Speedway and is home to multiple racing-themed employers, including Don Schumacher Racing, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, HMD Motorsports, and Graham Rahal Performance.
Beyond its notoriety for racing, Brownsburg is nationally recognized as a great place to raise a family. In fact, CNN Money named Brownsburg among the “Best Places to Live” three times for its low crime, affordability and top-rated schools.
Brownsburg’s excellent schools – and close proximity to Indianapolis – were a primary reason Marlon Webb, senior director of regional economic development for the Indy Chamber, moved his family from Indianapolis to the town a few years ago.
“Brownsburg has a highly rated school system and a very involved community,” Webb says. “We were also impressed with the breadth of activities in how they prepare students. It’s not just a sports-centric district. They really focus on all areas to ensure students receive a well-rounded education.”
Brownsburg is seeing major developments, with new restaurants and mixed-use spaces popping up around the town’s core.
“We’re definitely seeing a lot of improvements. They’re improving the parks that are adjacent to downtown, and Hendricks County as a whole has a very connected trail system that they’re improving upon as we speak to make sure these newer developments are involved in the trailway.”
Marlon Webb, Indy Chamber
Avon
A short drive from Indianapolis and sandwiched between Brownsburg and Plainfield, Avon offers a desirable combination of suburban living, access to parks, quality schools and a strong sense of community.
Avon saw its population nearly double over the last decade, with many families settling in the area due to its low cost of living and outdoor recreation opportunities. In the summer, residents cool off in the wave pool and zip down water slides at Murphy Aquatic Park. Frost Bite, a local ice cream shop, serves a wide variety of frozen treats.
Avon’s largest park, Washington Township Park, offers over 150 acres to discover, along with a disc golf course, a fishing pond, mountain bike trails, splash pads, and even a haunted bridge. Residents can also explore the dozens of miles of paved trails around Avon, including White Lick Creek Trail and the Bicentennial Trail.
This article was sponsored by Life in Indy.