Ft Wayne vs. Columbus? (Indianapolis, Fort Wayne: crime rate, houses, transfer)

[HanaMandamom]

My family and I are considering moving to Indiana but havn't decided on which area would be best for us. I grew up near Seattle, so like the things that a big city has to offer but currently live in a town that is way too small with nothing around, so a happy medium would be fine too. I like the looks and many neighborhoods of Ft. Wayne and COlumbus looks decent but possibly not enough around to do, but having never been to either, I'm just not sure.

Are there specific areas of Ft Wayne that are better/safer with shopping, etc nearby? I would ideally like to have a neighborhood grocery near, within a few miles or so to walk to. I have 2 kids, 7 & 9 that want a family neighborhood and activities like Taekwon-do nearby, water parks, etc. I want an established ngbrhd with trees, nothing new and treeless. We're looking around $150,000-210,000.

I have checked out Indianapolis but the crime rate is extremely high and surrounding suburbs I have heard (Carmel, Fishers) can be snobby/conservative. So, not so sure about there.????

Thanks for any insight you can offer. Also, if any other towns might fit the bill, I'll check them out too.

[Ronzou]

I have never been to Columbus, but I live in the Fort Wayne Area.

And where you have mentioned I would look at the Southwest area of Fort Wayne if you decided to go there. Aboite township is a pretty nice area. They have a Walgreens nearby and a Scotts (I think it's still there, however, I'm not sure since Kroger bought them out.) And I have heard that Southwest Allen County schools are really good.

Here are some resources to look at

THE ABOITE INDEPENDENT >>>>

Southwest Allen County Schools

[domergurl]

Now don't go bolting on me already Hana!!! Fort Wayne is nice. The Homestead school district is top notch. BUT, Columbus has a more vibrant downtown area and it's not suburban ... which appeals to me. I bike from my house to the library, mall play area or our local children's museum, as well as the city parks. About the only time I drive is if I need to do a big grocery trip or out to the Cummins private park, which is located outside of town ...

Come have a visit to both.

[mbuszu]

Originally Posted by HanaMandamom

My family and I are considering moving to Indiana but havn't decided on which area would be best for us. I grew up near Seattle, so like the things that a big city has to offer but currently live in a town that is way too small with nothing around, so a happy medium would be fine too. I like the looks and many neighborhoods of Ft. Wayne and COlumbus looks decent but possibly not enough around to do, but having never been to either, I'm just not sure.

Are there specific areas of Ft Wayne that are better/safer with shopping, etc nearby? I would ideally like to have a neighborhood grocery near, within a few miles or so to walk to. I have 2 kids, 7 & 9 that want a family neighborhood and activities like Taekwon-do nearby, water parks, etc. I want an established ngbrhd with trees, nothing new and treeless. We're looking around $150,000-210,000.

I have checked out Indianapolis but the crime rate is extremely high and surrounding suburbs I have heard (Carmel, Fishers) can be snobby/conservative. So, not so sure about there.????

Thanks for any insight you can offer. Also, if any other towns might fit the bill, I'll check them out too.

All I can start with is wow... your family description and desires align so well with Fort Wayne Indiana it's amazing. If you look at the SouthWest side of FortWayne (46804 and 46814 zipcodes - near highway 69 around exit 105 and 102 as well) you'll be very pleasantly surprised to find everything you are looking for. Everything you've described is available here and there is a ton to do here. Please explore some of my previous posts - I'm kind of like the online marketing person for Fort Wayne right now at this site... multiple posts in threads focused upon what to do, where to eat, perceptions, and advice.

I try to be objective in my descriptions of this area but will readily admit I like this city a lot. I've lived all over the country (my father did the executive-track corporate thing while I was growing up so we moved every year or two as he changed jobs or was transferred) and honestly I have never come across a place as good for raising kids and settling down as this vicinity. Most places have their pros and cons but the pro list for Fort Wayne is a bit longer than other areas and the con list a bit shorter. If you look at the SW side of Fort Wayne you'll find incredibly affordable housing (tremendous houses - 2-3k sq feet for $120-$210k), lots of shopping (two large and uniquely different malls in Fort Wayne - Jefferson Pointe and Glenbrook Square), a ton of parks, activity-based businesses, entertainment venues, summer festivals, you name it and this area has it. And what Fort Wayne doesn't have, well you don't have to go far to get it (you'll be 2-2.5 hours away from most things in or around Indianapolis, 3-3.5 hours from Chicago, and actually traversing the entire length of Fort Wayne requires only about 20 minutes n-s or e-w).

If you need someone to give you a tour around town I have a friend I can recommend (who I believe is connected with the fw visitor's bureau), if you need me to dig up older posts I've made about fort wayne and send you the links I can do that as well. Feel free to direct message me or post requests here. I'm just a guy enthusiastic about Fort Wayne and willing to share information on it :-)

[domergurl]

Alright MB .. you and me in a Columbus v Fort Wayne rumble!!!

[Purdue1906]

Originally Posted by HanaMandamom

I have checked out Indianapolis but the crime rate is extremely high and surrounding suburbs I have heard (Carmel, Fishers) can be snobby/conservative. So, not so sure about there.????

The crime rate in Indianapolis is relative to any city of it's size in the US, don't let people scare you into thinking Indy is like the lawless Wild, Wild West.

In terms of other towns, if you're looking at Columbus, you'd LOVE Bloomington, though I think Columbus is cool too, in Bloomington you get a great town, all the amenities that IU has to offer (arts, sports, music, etc.) and access to Lake Monroe, plus you can be in Columbus in about 45 minutes.

[domergurl]

I'll second Bloomington! Went to school there and love it still. It's a pain in the rear to get to from Columbus though. It shouldn't take almost an hour to go 35 miles, but it does. Hana, I approve of you looking into Bloomington as a second choice!

[HanaMandamom]

Thanks, Mbuszu for all your info. Purdue, I will check out Bloomington. And my poor little Domer, I'm not abandoning you yet, heck I don't even know if we will make it to Indiana! I just need to get out of boringville and somehow Indiana (I think the affordable housing) was a good place to start and the more I see and read of it it sounds wonderful. If I have mold allergies am I gonna die or what. You probably know some of the posts I am talking about. I have a feeling no matter where I live, something will get me. I moved from the Seattle area that is very wet and moldy to an area that is extremely dusty and full of woodsmoke, so I think there are so many things that can affect us, we just have to find a way to deal. What do you all think?

[HanaMandamom]

Oops, Ronzou thanks to you too for the links!

[domergurl]

Because Indiana is heavy in the pollen area, there are lots and lots of good allergists here! Keep that in mind!