Click HERE for the full video

7 Small Towns Around Indianapolis Worth a Second Look

Indianapolis gets most of the attention, and the big-name suburbs — Carmel, Fishers, Westfield — get the rest. But there's a whole tier of small towns around the metro that don't get talked about nearly as much, and a few of them might genuinely surprise you, even if you've lived in the area your whole life.

Here are seven small towns worth putting on your radar, what it actually costs to buy in each one, and how far you're really looking at for a commute downtown.

1. Fortville — Hancock County

Fortville is the kind of town most people drive past without realizing it's there. It sits out in Hancock County, about 30–35 minutes from downtown Indy — one of the easier commutes you'll find if you want small-town living on the east side.

What you get once you actually stop is a genuinely nice downtown: a hardware store that's been there for decades, almost no chain restaurants, and even an Italian restaurant run by an owner who's actually from Italy. It has a real sense of community, and a lot of residents know each other.

Home prices in Fortville: Resale homes start in the mid-$300,000s, with the town median sitting around $360,000. New construction runs from $400,000 into the $500,000s and up. This is a quiet, solid town that hasn't fully been discovered — my guess is you've still got a couple of years before that changes.

2. McCordsville — Hancock County

Right next door to Fortville is McCordsville, and despite the proximity, the two towns feel completely different. McCordsville has been growing fast thanks to its closeness to Fishers, and it's a little closer to downtown Indy than Fortville is — about 25–35 minutes.

New subdivisions are going up throughout the area, and there are solid deals to be found in new construction. Even with all that growth, McCordsville has held onto more of its small-town identity than most fast-growing areas manage to.

Mount Vernon schools are a big draw for families here, and the district has a strong reputation.

Home prices in McCordsville: Existing homes start in the mid-$300,000s, with the town median around the low $400,000s. Prices climb toward $900,000–$1 million the closer you get to Geist Reservoir.

3. Cicero — Hamilton County

Cicero doesn't get talked about nearly enough, and it's sitting right on Morse Reservoir in Hamilton County. If a lake lifestyle is what you're after — boating, fishing, lake days all summer — this is the pick on this list.

There's a small downtown with restaurants that fill up once the boats come in for the day, and the whole town has a laid-back, lake-town feel.

Home prices in Cicero: Lakefront properties on Morse Reservoir — essentially anything with a private dock — can run past $1 million fairly easily. Homes just a few minutes off the water are far more reasonable, starting around $300,000–$350,000. If lake life matters more to you than a short commute — or you work remotely — Cicero is genuinely worth a serious look.

4. Danville — Hendricks County

Heading to the west side, Danville is about as classic an Indiana downtown as you'll find, built around a picture-perfect courthouse square — the kind of scene people picture when they say they want small-town charm.

It's about 45 minutes from downtown Indy, with local shops, a well-loved coffee shop, and community events throughout the year. It's genuinely one of the best downtowns in the metro to just walk around.

Home prices in Danville: Existing homes start around $275,000, with new construction starting around $450,000 and up toward the edges of town. If you want classic small-town charm without giving up too much on commute time, Danville is a strong option on the west side.

5. Speedway

I know this one is going to draw some comments — Speedway is technically its own town, even though it's completely surrounded by Indianapolis. Whether or not it "counts" as a small town, it genuinely feels like one. Walk down Main Street and you'll find local restaurants, a bowling alley, and businesses tied to the track that give the downtown a proposition you won't find anywhere else in the metro.

Speedway is about 10 minutes from downtown Indy, and most of the year it feels like a tight-knit community — until May rolls around and the whole town transforms for Indy 500 season.

Home prices in Speedway: Well-kept older homes start in the low $250,000s, many within walking distance of Main Street. Renovated homes run from around $350,000 and up. It's a walkable small town with a genuinely big-city commute, and it might be one of the best-kept secrets on this list.

6. New Palestine — Hancock County

New Palestine, on the southeast side in Hancock County, is one of the fastest up-and-coming small towns near the metro right now — it reminds me a lot of what McCordsville looked like a few years back. New developments and strong schools are drawing families in, and it's about a 25-minute drive to downtown Indy.

Home prices in New Palestine: The town median sits around $350,000, with new construction starting in that same range and moving up. If you want to get into a growing area before it fully catches on citywide, this is one to watch.

7. Zionsville — Boone County

Zionsville is the name almost everyone already recognizes on this list, and it earns that reputation. It carries the highest median price point of any city in Central Indiana — brick streets downtown, excellent restaurants, bookstores, and art galleries. It's small-town charm turned up to its highest level anywhere in the metro.

Zionsville is about 30 minutes from downtown Indy, and because it's the priciest city on this list — and in Central Indiana overall — expect homes to start around $500,000, with some available closer to $400,000 at the low end. On the high end, prices climb well past $1 million, with some homes reaching into the multimillion-dollar range.

The Bottom Line

From the approachable entry point of Fortville, to lake life in Cicero, to the brick streets of Zionsville, there's genuinely a small town near Indianapolis for almost any budget or lifestyle. And if small towns aren't your thing, the bigger suburbs and the city itself offer plenty of options too — that variety is one of the best parts of living in Central Indiana.

Thinking About Moving to Indianapolis?

I'm Sean Hartwick — also known as The 317 Agent on Instagram — and I specialize in helping families relocate to the Indianapolis area. I work directly with every client (no team handoffs), and I'd love to be a resource for you and your family as you navigate this move.

Whether you have questions about neighborhoods, school districts, the home buying process, or just want to know what area is the best fit for your lifestyle, feel free to reach out. My personal cell and email are always available — just look in the description or contact me directly.

Let's get you home.

Sean Hartwick is a licensed real estate agent serving the Greater Indianapolis area. Follow him on Instagram @317agent.