West side of Indy (Indianapolis, Plainfield: foreclosure, renting, houses) - City-Data Forum

weverjames · 08-27-2011, 08:19 AM

For people who know those areas and maybe have lived in one of them, how Avon, Plainfield and Brownsburg compare to each other in the following aspects:
-easy of commute to Downtown Indy
-schools
-safety
-which has the higher family income and the higher concentration of educated white collar population
-amenities (restaurants, gyms/fitness centers, groceries, parks, public libraries)
-better landscape
-better choice of private schools
-health services available 24h (access to adult/pediatrics ER)

thanks for the reply

msamhunter · 08-27-2011, 08:20 AM

Huh, there really isn't a difference between them IMO.

weverjames · 08-27-2011, 10:53 AM

anyone can be more informative?

Broadrippleguy · 08-27-2011, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weverjames

anyone can be more informative?

Well we can if we know where your coming from. See Indianapolis has all different areas for different people and some people get upset moving to Indy cause they didnt pick the right area.

So i guess the question is what area are you coming from?

PixiStix · 08-27-2011, 11:24 AM

Based on the criteria you mentioned, I would recommend Avon for you. I've lived in both Avon & Plainfield & liked both. However, Avon has more ammenities that you mentioned, most notably, more shopping options, 2 really great parks, a new YMCA & a new hospital. The public schools are good in Hendricks county unless you really want private for religious reasons. Avon has Kingsway chrisitan & Plainfield has St. Susanna. I also think you will find a broader range of executive neighborhoods in Avon.

Toxic Toast · 08-27-2011, 12:20 PM

For most of the criteria, it is a wash. I think the two biggest differentiations would be the commute into downtown and the character of the towns. Plainfield will provide the easiest commute to downtown by a wide margin. Just hop on 70 and you're there. Rockville Road in Avon is a nightmare during peak times. There is no direct access from Brownsburg. If you are looking for an easier commute, Plainfield is the winner by a wide margin.

To me, Avon is a purely suburban community. Plainfield and Brownsburg feel more like small towns than happen to be near Indianapolis. Plainfield and Brownsburg have small cores, downtowns, and nice parks. Avon is a strip of chains along Rockville Road surrounded by vinyl villages.

PixiStix · 08-27-2011, 02:00 PM

Eh, Plainfield & Brownsburg certainly aren't immune to the vinyl villages either. It's an epidemic everywhere unfortunately.

I wouldn't call Brownsburg or Plainfield downtowns a huge plus. Yes, they each have one but unless you like old vacant buildings & crumbling sidewalks, there isn't much draw there (although Plainfield is trying to do some revamping) Still, not a lot to do in either one. Not having a "town center" is a negative to Avon I will admit.

Yes, if commute to downtown is priority #1, then Plainfield is your best best. It's amazingly easy. As far as getting around Avon, residents certainly know how to avoid 36 if it gets congested.

There are countless strips of shopping, retail & most chain restaurants along 36. Love it/hate it, it's there. Avon is growing so fast & trying hard to keep up. You certainly don't have to live "in it". I lived north of 36, off 267 & it seemed a world away from it. Plus I was close to the library, the park & the new hospital. I took 200N (21st st.) into Indy.

Avon does has a higher income average & other than the vinyl villages, more custom upscale neighborhoods than the other two. Washington Twp. Park is amazing, with tons of hiking trails & a dog park. Plus the brand new one back behind the Town Hall that has a disc golf course.

Really anyone who's considering a move needs to come explore an area to see what clicks for them. Avon certainly isn't perfect but it's a little more than "a strip of chains surrounded by vinyl villages"

weverjames · 08-29-2011, 07:16 PM

I visited Plainfield main st and center town, including the Recreation Center that is really nice, clean and well kept. The weak points of Plainfield IMO would be the proximity to the airport and to a large State Prison. The commute is reatively short through highway.

Avon has a lot of new development but everything is spread out and does not give you a sense of community. I saw very nice houses and a lot of foreclosure as well. I ate really good italian food in a local rest as well. Rockville road eventhough is a straight trip to Downtown Indy, is not anice commute: the roads are in bad shape, it pass through rough areas (either west Washington or 10th street) and is slow.

Brownsburg has a lot of potential. It is more lushy/green than Avon or Plainfield. It just needs more amenities. My questions would be for people living in Brownsburg,
- do you like living in a small town?
-do you find yourself driving frequently to other areas looking for things to do?
-how is the commute time at peak hours back and for from Indy downtown? How is commute through Crawfordville vs highways?

Broadrippleguy · 08-29-2011, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weverjames

I visited Plainfield main st and center town, including the Recreation Center that is really nice, clean and well kept. The weak points of Plainfield IMO would be the proximity to the airport and to a large State Prison. The commute is reatively short through highway.

Avon has a lot of new development but everything is spread out and does not give you a sense of community. I saw very nice houses and a lot of foreclosure as well. I ate really good italian food in a local rest as well. Rockville road eventhough is a straight trip to Downtown Indy, is not anice commute: the roads are in bad shape, it pass through rough areas (either west Washington or 10th street) and is slow.

Brownsburg has a lot of potential. It is more lushy/green than Avon or Plainfield. It just needs more amenities. My questions would be for people living in Brownsburg,
- do you like living in a small town?
-do you find yourself driving frequently to other areas looking for things to do?
-how is the commute time at peak hours back and for from Indy downtown? How is commute through Crawfordville vs highways?

Brownsburg is an upper class area. However what area of the US are you coming from so we know what area of Indy you would like. Certain areas of Indy cater to certain people better than others however they are not by any means racially segregated

weverjames · 08-29-2011, 07:57 PM

I already live in Downtown Indy. I am trying to find a place where to settle (currently I am renting). I want a community that would be welcoming to diversity as I myself am a legal inmigrant. Looking for educated people but looking to avoid opulent excluyent type of communities (paradoxycaclly having money/being wealthy does not always translate into tolerance/education/down to earth). But also looking for safety (main problem with marion county-some sketchy areas very close to the nice areas). I hope give you enough info.