Smaller towns outside of Ft. Wayne??? (Fort Wayne, Huntington: house, job market, school)

[Sweetardnas1885]

We are looking to move (hopefully before this Christmas) to a new place. We are looking at poss. moving to the Ft. Wayne, Indiana area. We are looking for a smaller town with a home town feel of sorts. We don't want anything too terribly small. We'd like to be within 20-30 minutes of a WalMart. We need a dog friendly/family friendly town. We are also looking for atleast 5 acres to build a home on or such land with a nice pre-existing home (we have Siberian Huskies who need room to run). Can anyone give me any info on any towns that may fit the bill.

Also if anyone has any info on gas prices, grocery prices, property taxes, any type of animal related taxes, job market, housing market, vet clinics in such areas...etc; I'd love to have this info too!

Let the knowledge flow!

[Sweetardnas1885]

I have never lived anywhere other than the Charleston, South Carolina area. I do not know much of other places around the US; only about places I have visited. So any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

[domergurl]

From our site, here are some small towns near Fort Wayne:

Nearest cities: New Haven, IN (7.3 miles ), Huntertown, IN (10.7 miles ), Leo-Cedarville, IN (12.1 miles ), Ossian, IN (14.0 miles ), Grabill, IN (14.2 miles ), Zanesville, IN (15.5 miles ), Churubusco, IN (17.0 miles ), Garrett, IN (18.6 miles ).

[gr81s4u]

Huntington and Wabash Counties are less than an hour and offer more land, more bang-for-the-buck in housing/land and plenty of that small town feel.

[Ronzou]

Originally Posted by Sweetardnas1885

We are looking to move (hopefully before this Christmas) to a new place. We are looking at poss. moving to the Ft. Wayne, Indiana area. We are looking for a smaller town with a home town feel of sorts. We don't want anything too terribly small. We'd like to be within 20-30 minutes of a WalMart. We need a dog friendly/family friendly town. We are also looking for atleast 5 acres to build a home on or such land with a nice pre-existing home (we have Siberian Huskies who need room to run). Can anyone give me any info on any towns that may fit the bill.

Also if anyone has any info on gas prices, grocery prices, property taxes, any type of animal related taxes, job market, housing market, vet clinics in such areas...etc; I'd love to have this info too!

Let the knowledge flow!

Okay, I'm slow.

Columbia City, is a smaller sized town the areas in town are pretty close together, but once you get into the country there is plenty of land. No where near as small as Churubusco (most people call it busco), but in the same county. Whitley County you can get a lot of land if you look for it. A lot of farmers are now selling their land because it's either too much upkeep from prices, or they aren't getting enough for crops, or just because they are getting old.

Columbia City has a Wal-Mart, as many other places. If you don't want to shop at that one you can go to the ones in Fort Wayne where they sell even more things and usually even cheaper than the Wal-Mart in Columbia City. Surprising ain't it? Columbia City is pretty family friendly, pet friendly, because it's your typical small town.


Gas prices here as of right now at this post. 3 dollars a gallon, well 2.999 (which they round up) so it makes it 3.

In town property taxes are literally outrageous. In the country no where near as bad. A new/newer house in town will run you over $1,000 a year in property taxes. In the country around 400-600 depending house, land, etc..

Grocery prices... Milk is 3 a gallon here. That's all I remember right now.

As for job market, most people in Columbia City, commute. Animal taxes, I don't think there are any. Housing market, they keep building them. Vet clinics... Not a clue, haven't had a pet since 95.

[Sweetardnas1885]

Thanks guys. This is really a big help. Please keep the advice coming!

[sweet1evie]

I can only tell you as a trucker driving through that area, that I loved the land along maumee river on 24 esp east of fort wayne and into OH. Pretty!

[Runt52]

Originally Posted by Sweetardnas1885

We are looking to move (hopefully before this Christmas) to a new place. We are looking at poss. moving to the Ft. Wayne, Indiana area. We are looking for a smaller town with a home town feel of sorts. We don't want anything too terribly small. We'd like to be within 20-30 minutes of a WalMart. We need a dog friendly/family friendly town. We are also looking for atleast 5 acres to build a home on or such land with a nice pre-existing home (we have Siberian Huskies who need room to run). Can anyone give me any info on any towns that may fit the bill.

Also if anyone has any info on gas prices, grocery prices, property taxes, any type of animal related taxes, job market, housing market, vet clinics in such areas...etc; I'd love to have this info too!

Let the knowledge flow!

Domergirl provided a fairly comprehensive list of small towns near FTW. Grabill is very small with a heavy concentration of Amish, So lots of horses and farm animals like goats and chickens. Same thing with the area around New Haven and Leo/Cedarville. You'll find that home and land prices here are 20 to 40% lower than in S.C. (I investigated retiring to S.C., but decided on Fl. instead) Same thing with taxes. Although property taxes are rising, still very low compared to other parts of the country. As of today (5/30) gas is selling for 3.33 to 3.40/gal or unleaded and diesel is under 2.90/gal.
Grocery stores are Walmart (4 or 5 in FTW) Scott's (the big local guy - recently bought by Krogers) Krogers, and several small independents.
With the agricultural background in the outlying areas, you should have no trouble finding several good vet clinics. I've been with my vet for 20+ years and hate losing him due to the move I'm making.
Good luck with your search!

[ShadowCaver]

Do you have any thoughts as to if you desire to be north, south, east, west of FtW itself? If knew such, that would help greatly narrow down the suggestions.

FWIW, Columbia City has an excellent vet clinic [Line Street - where my black lab goes], and of course there are other very good/excellent vets in other areas too that have been used before settling on this one.

Suggestions kind of depend also on what else it is you are looking to do, where you might be working, if desire more flat or somewhat rolling topography, what kind of entertainment desired, easy access to interstate, what kind of school system, etc. as there are many smaller nice towns/communities in the area here that could be suggested, but not be in the direction/location you want/need.

[stinebus]

I lived in NW FW for 20 years (now military so I'm all over the place). First, let me tell you about FW...

GREAT town. I've lived on both coasts, overseas and now Mid-West and I have to say that FW has great restaraunts and shopping. Their Pizza Huts are the best in the country. FW has all the major restaraunt chains and shopping chains you could want.

If you really want to live outside FW, try Leo. It's conventiently close and far at the same time. The area between FW and Leo is merging...sortof. Lots of housing and shopping going up. Lots of land to be had N toward LEo and in LEO. Other towns mentioned - Columbia City pretty small and maybe 20 minutes from FW. Grabill - Very country/Amish oriented, Quaint. If you're looking to go a bit further, say 30-45 min away, try looking at Angola. It's a great city very near good lakes/fishing/boating and right up I-69. When we move back, we'll probably look N/NE FW.