Thinking of moving to Indianapolis, IN (Columbus, Carmel: crime, job market, neighborhoods)

[RLCrowder123]

We currently live in Belgrade,MT and are in the drywall trade. Things have slowed down here and we are thinking of moving to Indianapolis. What is it like there? How is the construction industry and employment in general? What kind of housing opportunities & school districts ( we have a 4 & 2 year old) are there? What is the weather like? In general how is life in Indianapolis?
Thanks!

[krock1dk]

The Indianapolis/Central Indiana area has been hit hard economically like everyone else. However, its not as bad in Indiana as it is in the Midwest in general. The construction industry in the city/region/state has been hit hard just like the rest of the country. But Indiana has the lowest unemployment rate in the Midwest. And the Indianapolis-Carmel MSA is the most affordable metro area in the country to purchase a home. The Indianapolis area is an EXCELLENT place to raise a family when you factor in education, job market, crime, taxes, and economic factors. According to the 2008 issue of Places Rated Almanac, the Indianapolis-Carmel metro area was rankeds the second best LARGE large place to live (the only one that beat them was Portland, OR). Check it out for yourself.

Education: avoid IPS (Indianapolis Public Schools) at all costs. Its an urban school district. What else can be said? However, within outter areas of Indianapolis/Marion County proper, are suburban Township schools that are much better. Indianpolis is blessed with private/parochial schools everywhere. Your choices are almost unlimited.

Crime: Indianapolis has its crime and troubles like everyone else, but crime is usually lower in Indy than cities of comparible size or smaller. Most crime happens relative to drugs within older inner-city neighborhoods. About 90% of the crime happens within well inside the 465 beltway that goes around Indy. However, much of the east side is not very nice. The far north, south and west sides are much much better.

Weather: Indy is Midwestern and the weather changes every day. Summer are warm and humid. Winters are cold, but not as cold as Michigaan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, etc. Indy doesnt really get much snow--some but not nearlly as much as the immediate Great Lakes area.

And Indy is withing a few hours drive of other major Midwest markets--Chicago is 3 hours, Cincinnati is two, Lousiville is one and a half, Detroit is 5, Nashville is 5, and Columbus OH is almost 3.

Indy is a great place to live. But why are you choosing Indy, out of curiosity??