Living a Biking Lifestyle in Carmel-IN, Indiana

Carmel is a small and rapidly growing city of about 50,000 in central Indiana. It is an affluent suburb of Indianapolis with a well deserved reputation as a town that celebrates the arts as well as biking and fitness. Bicycle devotees will find themselves at home in Carmel. The Carmel Art & Design District (photos above courtesy of Wikipedia and Tysto) attracts people of all ages to Carmel.  The city has an ambitious Carmel City Center project near Carmel's Arts and Design District that will feature 230,000 square feet of retail space and restaurants, 170,000 square feet of office space, 300 penthouses and apartments, a 102-room boutique hotel, a 500-seat performing arts theater, an outdoor amphitheater, and a 1,600-seat performance hall. The Carmel Monon Community center (at a cost of $55 million)  opened in 2007 with a state of the art fitness center, as well a water park and aquatic center.

Where to Retire in Carmel-IN and Home Prices

This is a suburban town. You will be able to live in the new City Center or in an existing neighborhood. Prices of homes in Carmel are high for the midwest, reflecting how affluent and how desirable the town is. According to Zillow.com, the median home value in Carmel was $502,454 in early 2023.

What Is Special about Carmel-IN

This progressive city has ambitious plans which will make it a very livable city. Its City Center and Community Center, along with the Art Design District, make it one of the most advanced towns anywhere. Its extensive network of bicycle trails make it a top destination for bicyclists.

What Is Not Special about Carmel-IN

The price of success is that Carmel is an expensive town to live in.

Climate and Physical Environment

Carmel is located almost in the exact center of Indiana, just north of Indianapolis.  The median January low temperature is 17 and the median July high is 85. May is the wettest month and the average winter snowfall is averages 23 inches.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

Carmel is well known for its cultural attractions, particularly the Carmel Art and Design District. That effort won cultural certification from the state. It boast frequent cultural events with art walks, public art exhibits, and has its own orchestra. The Gazebo Concert series attracts many visitors. The City Center will boast restaurants, a major concert hall, as well as 2 theaters.

Crime

Carmel has a low crime rate.

Medical Facilities

There is a hospital in Carmel, and a number of hospitals in nearby Indianapolis.

Transportation

Carmel is near several interstates, Amtrak, and the Indianapolis Executive airport. The Monon system of bike trails is a good example of a successful rail-to-trails project. The Access Project has plans to add 100 miles of bike trails. Carmel is about average in walkability when compared to other communities.

Valuable Links

City of Carmel

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