People often make fun of Indiana for being “The Crossroads of America,” but the state has a lot more to offer than just farms and busy interstates. It has cool college towns and a lively capital city called Indianapolis. It also has the quiet suburb city of Carmel, which is often on lists of the best places to live in the US.
Indiana is in both the Midwest and the Great Lakes, so it has a lot of different sides. There is almost endless farming around the state’s best and liveliest cities and towns. Indy and Fort Wayne, two of its biggest cities, show this contrast by having many areas that still have the feel and charm of small towns.
You can find the best music and arts scenes in college towns other than these two in Bloomington, Evansville, and Terre Haute. Indiana is a surprisingly good place to live, study, explore, and work. The Indiana Dunes National Park and Hoosier National Forest both have beautiful scenery.
Top 10 Amazing Cities in Indiana
1. Terre Haute
Terre Haute is in the west-central part of Indiana, right on the border with Illinois. It is thought to be one of the best college places in the country by many. It is known as the “Queen City of the Wasbah,” and its streets have a busy but relaxed vibe thanks to its large student population and many colleges and universities.
The town grew quickly in the beginning thanks to industry, the railroads, and river trade along the Wabash River in the same-named valley. It did experience urban ruin, but new projects to revitalize the area have brought new life and energy to its streets. Because of this, downtown now has a lot of art galleries and theaters, and it also hosts a huge number of fairs and music events every year.
Terre Haute has five colleges and universities, but most people come to study. Families love all of the city’s parks and green areas, which is why it’s called “Tree City USA.”
2. Zionsville
The cute little town of Zionsville is only 30 minutes northwest of downtown Indianapolis. It is often named one of the best places to live in the United States. Rich people live in a nice suburb with a great quality of life. The area’s charming center also draws tourists.
Even though it has the most expensive postcode in all of Indiana, which can be seen in the prices of homes there, people who live there enjoy safe streets, great schools, and a nice, small-town feel. Many shops and restaurants are located in the village-style center area, so you don’t have to go to the busy city of Circle City every time you want to eat out.
In Zionsville, there are lots of beautiful houses and fun things to do outside, making it a great place to settle down and raise a family.
3. Evansville
Evansville is in the southwestern part of Indiana. It is the third most populous city in the state. It is an important cultural, economic, and medical center for the Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky tri-state area because it is in an oxbow in the Ohio River.
The old French settlement is often called the “Crescent Valley” and “River City” because of its beautiful setting. The streets are lively because there are so many students there. The University of Southern Indiana and the University of Evansville are both located here. There are many great bars and restaurants in the area that cater to young people.
Families and young workers are also drawn to the city by its low cost of living and a large number of employers in many fields. It also has a peaceful riverwalk and a busy nightlife scene. The amazing old Native American site of Angel Mounds and the Evansville Museum are two of the city’s most popular attractions.
4. Fishers
Another lovely neighborhood to live in and raise a family is on the other side of the capital from Plainfield. Fishers is on the northeastern edge of Indianapolis. It feels like a friendly small town, with nice homes and well-kept gardens that define its quiet areas.
This city has grown very quickly in the last few decades because its economy is rising and it is close to both Indianapolis and Interstate 69. The good public schools and local services have kept up with the times, and there are so many cafes and restaurants in the area that you don’t even have to leave to eat.
The community also comes together for a lot of cultural events and festivals. The Spark! Fishers and Fishers Renaissance Faire, which happens every year, is one of the most famous. At the Geist Reservoir, you can enjoy great outdoor activities like fishing and waterskiing. The great Connor Prairie Living History Museum tells stories about the area’s past.
5. Plainfield
From downtown Indianapolis, Plainfield is just past the Indianapolis International Airport. It is both a neighborhood and a city in its own right. It is very popular with families and young professionals, and it has great schools and public services. Attractions and entertainment choices in the capital are only a short drive away.
Along East Main Street and Quaker Boulevard are where most of the town’s people live. There are many stores, restaurants, and an outdoor shopping mall here. The twelve or so hotels are mostly for people going to the nearby airport or a meeting.
It has a huge warehouse area that takes up almost the whole eastern side of town and is where a lot of people work. Because housing is cheap travel times are short, and the job market is strong, thousands more people have moved here in the last ten years.
6. Lafayette
Lafayette is another popular college town to live in and visit. It is further up the Wasbah River, about an hour’s drive northwest of Indianapolis. Even though there are a few theaters and museums downtown, Purdue University has a big impact on the cultural life of the city.
Its campus is huge and spreads out across the river in West Lafayette. It has some beautiful old historic buildings and lovely green places for you to walk around. Along with students from Ivy Tech Community College, its students make the town buzz, and Boilermakers football game days are especially lively and exciting.
Lafayette has a lot of bars and restaurants because there are a lot of young people living there. A lot of families also choose to live here because the public schools are great and the cost of living is low.
7. Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne is the second largest city in Indiana, after Indianapolis. It is in the northeast of the state, not too far from the Ohio line. Its strong job and housing markets, low cost of living, and reputation as a regular winner of the All-America City Award all make it a great place to settle down.
It began as a small military base in 1794 and has grown into a big city that serves as the culture and economic hub for the surrounding area. Its big historic buildings show a wide range of architectural styles. Two of the most impressive are the tall Lincoln Bank Tower and the beautiful Saint Paul’s Cathedral.
You can walk through the conservatory’s beautiful botanical grounds as well as its Italianate, Greek Revival, and Postmodern architectural gems. The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, which has over 1,500 animals and some fun rides, is Summit City’s major draw, though.
8. Bloomington
Because it is home to Indiana University’s main campus, a lot of Bloomington’s life revolves around the well-known school and its large group of students. There are always a lot of plays, music shows, and art shows in this artsy college town, which gives it a lively, young vibe.
Courthouse Square is where most of the action is. It has a lot of cool bars and cafes, as well as university bookstores and a lot of international restaurants. There are a lot of Tibetans living in the city, so you can also take a break at one of the many shrines and temples that are spread out. Bloomington has a lot of great things about it, but its housing, work, and cost of living could all be better.
A lot of young workers still move here, though, because the “Gateway to Scenic Southern Indiana” is close to a lot of beautiful nature. People from all over the world can enjoy a wide range of fun outdoor activities in places like Lake Monroe and Hoosier National Forest.
9. Carmel
Carmel is right next to Indianapolis and is often ranked as one of the best places to live in the United States. There are safe streets, good schools, and a friendly community feel that make it a great place to start a job or raise a family.
It is one of the wealthiest towns in the Midwest, and the streets and neighborhoods are spotless. There are lovely homes and gardens there that aren’t too expensive compared to other places in the country. There are also many great art galleries and stores for interior design in the city’s arts and design area, as well as many restaurants and bars.
All of downtown Indianapolis’s sights are only a 30-minute drive away, and Carmel also has some fun fairs and community events every year. People who live there can also get enough exercise, play sports, and enjoy nature in its small parks.
10. South Bend
South Bend is near the southern end of the St. Joseph River. It is a very important culture and economic center for the north of the state. This area is home to a number of large companies, but it is best known for being home to the University of Notre Dame and its Fighting Irish sports team.
One of the best colleges in the US, it has a stunningly beautiful campus with museums and art galleries lining the well-kept quads. Walking around its historic colleges is fun in and of itself, but seeing the Fighting Irish play in front of 77,000 fans is an event you will never forget.
Besides the Touchdown Jesus painting at the stadium and the sparkling Golden Dome, you should also check out downtown. It was ignored for a long time, but in the past few years, cozy cafes and culture centers have sprung up all over the place. South Bend is a great place to live and visit, and its public schools, housing, and low cost of living all get good marks.
