Indianapolis

Best Indianapolis suburbs for families

Ranked on a families weighting: schools at 30%, amenities within two miles at 20%, and the four poll questions about children, safety and sidewalks at 20%. Cost still counts, at 15%. The full weighting is shown at the bottom, and it is not the same as the overall score.

Updated Sep 2026·23 suburbs considered, 10 listed
1
The Palladium at The Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, IN.
Carmel$487k median · 24.6 min commute
Schools AAmenities A−Residents inactive
79
Family score
overall 77 B
2
Speedway, IN
Speedway$229k median · 22.0 min commute
Schools AAmenities BResidents inactive
76
Family score
overall 67 C+
3
The Arbuckle, Brownsburg, IN
Brownsburg$309k median · 24.2 min commute
Schools AAmenities CResidents inactive
73
Family score
overall 71 B−
4
Downtown Noblesville view of the Hamilton County courthouse.
Noblesville$350k median · 26.6 min commute
Schools A−Amenities C+Residents inactive
72
Family score
overall 68 B−
5
Westfield, IN
Westfield$426k median · 25.1 min commute
Schools A−Amenities C−Residents inactive
72
Family score
overall 71 B−
6
Downtown Plainfield, Indiana.
Plainfield$281k median · 22.8 min commute
Schools B+Amenities B−Residents inactive
72
Family score
overall 67 C+
7
Aerial view of Geist Reservoir and surrounding housing developments in Indianapolis suburb of Fishers, Indiana, United States.
Fishers$391k median · 26.7 min commute
Schools A−Amenities C−Residents inactive
69
Family score
overall 70 B−
8
Avon Haunted Bridge in Washington Township Park
Avon$324k median · 23.1 min commute
Schools A−Amenities C−Residents inactive
69
Family score
overall 68 B−
9
City of Greenwood City Hall
Greenwood$276k median · 24.8 min commute
Schools B−Amenities B−Residents inactive
69
Family score
overall 65 C+
10
Indianapolis city (balance)$225k median · 24.6 min commute
Schools D+Amenities AResidents inactive
65
Family score
overall 61 C
This list's weighting
Schools 30%Amenities 20%Resident poll (Q2, Q5, Q6, Q8) 20%Cost of living 15%Housing 10%Commute 5%

Poll components only count for places with eight or more resident responses; for the others the remaining weights re-normalise to 100%.

Other Indianapolis lists
Most affordable Indianapolis suburbsBest Indianapolis suburbs for schoolsShortest commutes to Downtown CarmelMost walkable Indianapolis suburbsBest Indianapolis suburbs for young professionalsHow we score Indianapolis suburbs →

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Carmel (TheSongbook · CC BY-SA 3.0); Speedway (Wikimedia Commons · Public domain); Brownsburg (Michaeldavisson · CC0); Noblesville (Unknown authorUnknown author · CC0); Westfield (Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5); Plainfield (Eric Wood · CC BY-SA 3.0); Fishers (Carol M. Highsmith · Public domain); Avon (Michaeldavisson · CC BY-SA 4.0); Greenwood (Steinmek · CC BY-SA 4.0).