Best Places to Live in Indiana (2026)
Explore the best neighborhoods in Indiana. From Fort Wayne to the Indianapolis metro, find your perfect Indiana community.
Indiana Neighborhood Guides
Explore our detailed guides for Indiana neighborhoods. More guides are being added regularly.
Why Move to Indiana?
Indiana offers one of the Midwest's most attainable housing markets paired with a diversified economy spanning healthcare, logistics, advanced manufacturing, and life sciences. The Indianapolis metro's northern suburbs — Carmel, Fishers, and Zionsville — are perennial top-ranked communities nationally for schools, safety, and quality of life. Fort Wayne delivers exceptional affordability with a revitalized riverfront downtown, while Bloomington brings world-class university culture and a walkable, creative atmosphere.
Our Indiana neighborhood guides analyze real data on cost of living, school ratings, local amenities, and community characteristics to help you find your perfect match. Fort Wayne is featured on our 10 Best Places to Start Over list for its stability, low cost of living, and family-oriented neighborhoods.
Indiana Regions: Where to Live
Indianapolis Metro (Carmel, Fishers, Greenwood)
Known for: Corporate headquarters (Eli Lilly, Anthem, Salesforce tower), world-class sports venues, top-ranked suburban school districts. Carmel and Fishers consistently rank among America's best places to live, offering upscale dining, arts districts, and extensive trail systems while remaining far more affordable than coastal metros.
Fort Wayne
Known for: Exceptional affordability, revitalized Promenade Park and riverfront, growing tech and defense sectors. Indiana's second-largest city offers median home prices well below the national average, safe family neighborhoods, and a downtown renaissance with breweries, restaurants, and cultural venues.
Bloomington
Known for: Indiana University, vibrant arts and music scene, progressive culture, Hoosier National Forest access. Bloomington is a college-town gem with a walkable downtown square, farm-to-table dining, and a creative community that attracts academics, artists, and remote workers alike.
South Bend / Mishawaka
Known for: University of Notre Dame, affordable lakefront living near Michigan, growing tech and startup ecosystem. South Bend has undergone significant revitalization with a reimagined riverfront, smart-city initiatives, and housing costs that make homeownership accessible for young professionals and families.
Evansville
Known for: Ohio River waterfront, healthcare and manufacturing employment, extremely low cost of living. Southwest Indiana's largest city offers a small-city pace with strong community roots, minor-league sports, and easy access to outdoor recreation along the river and nearby state parks.
Compare Indiana Cost of Living by ZIP Code
Use our interactive calculator to compare living expenses between any Indiana ZIP codes. See how housing, food, transportation, and other costs differ across the state.
Compare Indiana ZIP Codes