Pros and Cons of Indianapolis? Indianapolis or Madison? (Lafayette, Columbus: crime rate, public school)

[jcamber]

I always liked the fact that Indy is very centric to many places. Compared to TX (I'm now in DFW), the property taxes are not nearly as high as here and you still get a lot of house for the money (but probably not as much as down in TX). Winters are long, gloomy and cold. I would expect Madison to be just as Indy in that regard, maybe a bit longer?

I always liked the feel Indy had of small town with all the big city conveniences. Oh and traffic is a walk in the park compared to big Texas cities... you'll love that.

[wiingirl]

Originally Posted by dtimm28

My wife and I are looking into moving from TX soon. I'm considering the Madison, WI and Indianapolis, IN areas due to various reasons, including my IT (networking) career. What are some pros and cons of the Indianapolis area?

I was born in the Madison, WI area and lived half my adult life in Indy.

Madison is VERY liberal. Great schools, high taxes, low crime. Very cold winters and beautiful summers on the city lakes. If the small town feeling gets a little old, just drive 1 hour east and your in Milwaukee or 2 hours south and you're in Chicago. Very international with a European flare. The people are friendly, but sometimes takes some time for them to warm up to strangers. If you like outdoor sports, hunting, fishing/ice fishing, skiing water/snow, ice skating, boating, hiking, biking, you name it, you'll find yours in Madison. A very healthy/excercise friendly city. Lots of hiking/biking trails all over Wisconsin, especially in Madison because of the University. And with the UW in Madison, the arts have something for everyone. Madison is a great place to raise a family and a very safe environment for the elderly. Very little racism.

Indy is mostly conservative...up until this past election. Okay schools, lower taxes, higher crime, but that's the big city. Live on the north side or far south side and you're okay. Better yet, live outside of Marion county. If you choose to live in Marion county, live outside the 465 loop. Especially if you have children. Hoosier hospitality is fantastic. And if you like sports, this IS the place to live. Colts, Pacers, Indy 500/Brickyard 400, National Drags, Indy Ice, Indiana Hoosier basketball (IU campus only 45 minute drive away), any sport you can think of, you can find here. The downtown area is fantastic. Every kind of place to eat you can imagine. Lots of festivals. A great zoo and tons of museums. A little racism exist. Most crime is black on black unfortunately (watch The Shift on DirecTV).

[wiingirl]

Originally Posted by wiingirl

I was born in the Madison, WI area and lived half my adult life in Indy.

Madison is VERY liberal. Great schools, high taxes, low crime. Very cold winters and beautiful summers on the city lakes. If the small town feeling gets a little old, just drive 1 hour east and your in Milwaukee or 2 hours south and you're in Chicago. Very international with a European flare. The people are friendly, but sometimes takes some time for them to warm up to strangers. If you like outdoor sports, hunting, fishing/ice fishing, skiing water/snow, ice skating, boating, hiking, biking, you name it, you'll find yours in Madison. A very healthy/excercise friendly city. Lots of hiking/biking trails all over Wisconsin, especially in Madison because of the University. And with the UW in Madison, the arts have something for everyone. Madison is a great place to raise a family and a very safe environment for the elderly. Very little racism.

Indy is mostly conservative...up until this past election. Okay schools, lower taxes, higher crime, but that's the big city. Live on the north side or far south side and you're okay. Better yet, live outside of Marion county. If you choose to live in Marion county, live outside the 465 loop. Especially if you have children. Hoosier hospitality is fantastic. And if you like sports, this IS the place to live. Colts, Pacers, Indy 500/Brickyard 400, National Drags, Indy Ice, Indiana Hoosier basketball (IU campus only 45 minute drive away), any sport you can think of, you can find here. The downtown area is fantastic. Every kind of place to eat you can imagine. Lots of festivals. A great zoo and tons of museums. A little racism exist. Most crime is black on black unfortunately (watch The Shift on DirecTV).

Oops, I neglected to state that in Madison, WI, full time jobs are hard to come by even in a good economy. The businesses there know they can hire UW students part time to fill positions to avoid paying benefits. Indy's job opportunities are much better and more numerous.

[Virgil Steiner]

I always thought Madison was one of the nicest small towns in Indiana. It sets high on a bluff over looking the Ohia River. It truely is a beautiful sight. A young person might want to live in Indy though, just a lot more for a young person to do. Indianapolis is very nice for a big town. Its easy to get around in since almost all the streets are set up in a checkerboard pattern. That's one of the nice things about living on flat land. It's hard to get lost in Indy, but if you should get lost, don't panic, just keep right on a driving and you'll eventually come to Meridian or Warshington Street and one of those will most likely take you where you need to go, or at least get you in the general vicinity. Those are the 2 main streets in Indianapolis. Meridian runs North and South. Warshington runs east and west and both go from one end of town to the other. Good luck on your decision, whatever it may be. Either town, you cain't go wrong.

[ischyros]

Originally Posted by Virgil Steiner

I always thought Madison was one of the nicest small towns in Indiana. It sets high on a bluff over looking the Ohia River. It truely is a beautiful sight. A young person might want to live in Indy though, just a lot more for a young person to do. Indianapolis is very nice for a big town. Its easy to get around in since almost all the streets are set up in a checkerboard pattern. That's one of the nice things about living on flat land. It's hard to get lost in Indy, but if you should get lost, don't panic, just keep right on a driving and you'll eventually come to Meridian or Warshington Street and one of those will most likely take you where you need to go, or at least get you in the general vicinity. Those are the 2 main streets in Indianapolis. Meridian runs North and South. Warshington runs east and west and both go from one end of town to the other. Good luck on your decision, whatever it may be. Either town, you cain't go wrong.

This thread is 4-years-old but it was also about Indianapolis vs. Madison, WI, not Madison, IN.

[ColdAilment]

Originally Posted by M TYPE X

I just visited Madison. Now, I can objectively compare both per your question.

Madison = college town with a state capital
Indianapolis = large city with a state capital

I feel like we are comparing Ann Arbor versus Columbus here, the difference is between chocolate and ****!

Indianapolis is quite a bit larger than Madison, but I wouldn't dismiss Madison as just a college town. It's a city of 250,000 people, metro is around 600,000. Admittedly smaller than Indianapolis at 830,000 and 1.9 million metro, but Madison is also fairly close to both Milwaukee and Chicago.

Madison does have a huge state university there, but Indianapolis has a host of colleges and small private universities as well. IUPUI has a student body of over 30,000 now and it is located right on the fringes of downtown.

[purplephoenix16]

Originally Posted by M TYPE X

I just visited Madison. Now, I can objectively compare both per your question.

Madison = college town with a state capital
Indianapolis = large city with a state capital

I feel like we are comparing Ann Arbor versus Columbus here, the difference is between chocolate and ****!

I laughed way too hard at that!

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by ColdAilment

Indianapolis is quite a bit larger than Madison, but I wouldn't dismiss Madison as just a college town. It's a city of 250,000 people, metro is around 600,000. Admittedly smaller than Indianapolis at 830,000 and 1.9 million metro, but Madison is also fairly close to both Milwaukee and Chicago.

Madison does have a huge state university there, but Indianapolis has a host of colleges and small private universities as well. IUPUI has a student body of over 30,000 now and it is located right on the fringes of downtown.

Madison isn't much closer to Chicago than Indy.

[ColdAilment]

Originally Posted by grmasterb

Madison isn't much closer to Chicago than Indy.

About 60 miles closer. Madison is also only 80 miles from Milwaukee, a city just about the same size as Indianapolis.

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by ColdAilment

About 60 miles closer. Madison is also only 80 miles from Milwaukee, a city just about the same size as Indianapolis.

Good luck getting into Chicago city an hour sooner on the Jane Adams/Kennedy.