Midwest upper middle class town - 6/14/2019

I moved to Carmel from France and I lived there for 20 years. I moved to Indianapolis recently (I miss Carmel). I liked Carmel because it is clean, safe, pretty, it has a good infrastructure, it has a great public library. They renovated the little (tiny) downtown. I am glad they built roundabouts like in Europe as they make the traffic flow much better. The problem is that a lot of people are missing the point: they stop even when there's no coming cars! People drive here, they don't walk or bike (very few bikers). They have started adding bike lanes but many car drivers still don't respect bikers (they don't anywhere in Indiana). It is an upper middle class town. Carmel high school students don't ride the bus, they drive (expensive cars). ~6000 students in the 1 high school. A lot of pressure is put on the students to achieve/perform and make the school look good. My children did not like the other kids' attitude for the most part (cliques). I found adults superficial too. Because of that my friends were international people mostly. So I liked the place but not so much the people. It has been changing though as Corporates bring more and more international people. 20+ years in the midwest is enough for me, I want to move out west.

[Comment on this Posting]

Prosperous EdgeCity Suburb Filled with Roundabouts - 4/16/2018

This place has just about every corporate chain hotel imaginable. I come for business, and it is a nice place to do business. Carmel seems to sucking the corporate lifeblood out of the Indianapolis area. Be forewarned, this place has so many roundabouts driving is very maddening. Three and four story apartment and condo buildings fill the landscape. You get the feeling that they are trying to create a new higher density suburban mini Indianapolis north of the real one. There is 'Carmel by the Sea,' and this one is 'Carmel by the Interstates' surrounded by flat corn fields to the north, east, and west. This is a growing suburb on steroids, and probably Indiana's highest wage area for corporate jobs. If you like your buildings newer than 10 years old, this place is filled with lots of them, but the architecture is vanilla corporate.

[Comment on this Posting]

Carmel is the best - 2/28/2015

Carmel is hands down the best place to live in Indiana.

[Comment on this Posting]

Stay away - 11/4/2014

My wife and I have been in Indiana for five years because of ours jobs and all I can say is YUCK! I'm originally from the midwest and my wife is from the south so we don't have unrealistic expectations. You shouldn't have any expectations about Indiana. It's legal here to shoot police officers if they don't clearly identify themselves. You can't buy alcohol on Sundays. The KKK ran the state government until the 1930's then the FBI finally ran them out of the state capitol. Take a trip to northern Indiana (around the Dunes) and there's a white supremacist radio station on air, seriously. Needless to say, this place is the most backwards looking, conservative, homophobic, xenophobic place one can imagine. The word Hoosier originally was southern slang describing the uncouth people in the flatlands north of the Ohio river. That's spot on. Indianapolis is one of the unsafest cities in the U.S. It's perpetually poor, polluted, violent crime is through the roof, and the people are half-educated. There aren't any recreational activities except for one bike trail probably because the the majority of people are overweight smokers. Bit hey there's a race track, and two sports teams that are insanely subsidized by Marion county. You actually have to pay a commuter tax if you live outside of Marion county but work there. That's how poorly Indianapolis is financed. Carmel, Fishers, and Zionsville are richer versions of this to the north of Indianapolis. Fisheres and Carmel are both cookie-cutter suburbs filled with strip-malls and national business chains. Carmel is in debt up to ears because of its rapid development plan (which hasn't included infrastructure) so expect taxes to jump.

[Comment on this Posting]

Best place to live in Indiana - 7/11/2012

Carmel is the best place to live in Indiana, hands down. Housing value is high, taxes are low, cultural life the best (good library, great performing arts center, major league sports). Only problem: no mountains, no ocean.

[Comment on this Posting]

neighborhood - 11/2/2011

Was wondering if anyone could give me advice on the best family friendly neighborhoods to move to in Carmel. My husband and I are in our mid-thirties with a 3 year old and one on the way. Our price range is b/t 300,000-500,000 with more importance being on the neighborhood and less on how nice the house is. Thanks!

[Comment on this Posting]

Great place to raise a family! - 4/8/2011

I lived in Carmel for 12 years. It is an affluent city, although it also contains areas that are older and more affordable (central area of the city; whereas the eastern and western borders of the city limits are mainly newer, very large homes and some mansions). The school system is excellent, and crime is low. There is a strong sense of community, which contributes to a well-kept community and strong volunteerism, although it is also somewhat "Stepford-ish". Politically, Carmel is VERY conservative. Climate: well, this is the Midwest, so hot and humid summers and cold winters. Overall, I am glad I lived there while raising my family, and would recommend it.

[Comment on this Posting]

Carmel, Indiana is a Wonderful City - 12/11/2010

Carmel is a wonderful place. It has one of the most forward thinking city governments in the US and can compete with cities anywhere for good schools, libraries, parks a world class concert hall and theater complex, a community recreation center, wonderful gold courses and low taxes. The mayor has built more roundabouts than any other city in the US and substantially lowered the injury accident from accidents by 70%. the people are from extremely diverse backgrounds for anywhere in the Midwest. Over twenty percent Asian-American and lots of religious diversity--everyone seems welcome.

[Comment on this Posting]

Not a plesant climate in the least - 2/12/2010

Very over-cast and gray most of winter and even in spring summer and fall. There is very little spring at all. It rains and is quite cold until the end of May most years. Fall can be nice if it lasts more than 4 weeks. It is the driest season of the year.

[Comment on this Posting]

I lived there - 11/22/2009

I lived there from 1955. until 1975 when I joined the Air Force. I had 5 older sisters, and a younger brother. I worked for a carpenter named Bob Aldrich. In our big garage I built chevy cars. The last was 2 1963 Chevy 2 with a straught axel, and fender well headers. I've been up there again, and saw a lot of new houses.

[Comment on this Posting]

great city - 4/16/2009

This is one of the best cities in Indiana. The city government is forward thinking and Carmel was one of the few cities to have a balanced budget last year. Roadways are always being improved and city greenspace is well maintained. the city is growing and is upscale.

[Comment on this Posting]

Economy - 1/23/2008

Seems to be booming

[Comment on this Posting]

Great Place to Live - 9/9/2007

I've recently moved from Long Island, NY to Carmel, Indiana and can't get over how beautiful the community and schools are.

[Comment on this Posting]

Good schools - 7/22/2007

Lots of opportunity, good honors programs. Classrooms are too large for the student/ teacher ratio. New schools, large campus.

[Comment on this Posting]

A Wonderful Town - 5/2/2007

We lived in Carmel for almost 15 years. We saw lots of changes from corn fields to new development (commercial and residential). The city has really begun developing downtown which has become filled with art and entertainment. A recent visit to Carmel resulted in a pleasant surprise as we saw lots of people strolling down Main St., eating at one of the local restaurants and others walking/biking/skating on the Monon Trail. The crime rate in Carmel is one of the lowest and the schools are incredibly good. Carmel is close to Indianapolis which gives you the opportunity to live in a small community with access to all of the amenities of a city. Carmel is truly one of the best places we had the privilege to call home for 15 years.

[Comment on this Posting]

Boring - 1/14/2007

Good place for housewives to shop and drink coffee.

[Comment on this Posting]

Great Place To Live - 12/1/2006

I respectfully disagree with some of the negative comments. I live in Westfield and work in Carmel. The area is very clean, crime is low, and the people are friendly. There is a lot to do. If you are into recreation, there is a great deal of diversity in this regard. One of my favorite things is the Monon Trail (bike/skate/pedestrian) that goes from 146th street far South into downtown. Perhaps the negative viewers just don't want anyone else moving here but I love Indiana. The combination of reasonable climate, low cost of living (including low taxes), great schools, low crime, etc. make it a wonderful place for families, in my opinion. Also, the roads are intelligently designed, for the most part, and traffic is quite reasonable versus other areas of the country.

[Comment on this Posting]

Coming Back Home To Indiana! - 10/18/2006

Indiana girl living in Florida now...Oh ya how bad we want to get out of Indiana when we were younger. But after being out of Indiana for a couple of years now, I'm so ready to move back home. Here's Florida...Diversity all you can handle, high property taxes(EVERYWHERE, not just beach front!) a tool shed can run you over $350,00. Crime(the state I think with the most child molestors-sicking!) Granted the weather is warmer year round(soooo humid in the summer-which all you want to do is be in airconditioning always!) Oh ya I can't forget about Red-Tide that is always on the Gulf Coast. No fun swimming in Red-Tide. You want to talk about unfriendly people...Florida has lots of them. I lived in PA also for awhile same thing very unfriendly people compared to what I was use to in Indiana. The point I'm trying to make is: Appreciate Indiana, trust me there's no place like it. Carmel sounds like a wonderful community. Being from a college town in Indiana. Maybe some people like that safety bubble(as someone said on this message board- It's like living in a bubble). I know I'm coming back home soon!!!!

[Comment on this Posting]

For Pod People Only - 8/24/2006

I lived over two years in Carmel and couldn't wait to leave. Yes, it is a very quiet and safe place to live. Yes, the summers are beautiful with what I consider low humidity (compared to the East Coast) and reasonable temperatures. But it stops there. The people were the most unfriendly and conservative I have ever met in my life. I consider myself a very outgoing and friendly sort and in two years I did not meet one person. No one! Not ever an invite over for a cup of coffee. The religious right is everywhere, even in the workplace. There is no diversity whatsoever and try finding an independent restaurant. Unless you love TGIF or Chili's you are outta luck. Also, the winters are brutal. Try temps in the negatives from December on.

[Comment on this Posting]

Carmel Rocks! - 8/8/2006

Carmel has gotten a bad reputation from a small number of very vocal individuals, but all in all, I have found it to be a great place to live. I have spent most of my life in this city and went to Carmel schools from third grade to high school. I will admit that it did take a little while to make new friends and meet people, but it is not the unfriendly, cold place many people have made it out to be in the other reviews. Carmel schools, in particular, are really wonderful. Sure, they are large, but with great size comes great opportunity! There are more programs and groups to explore and of which to be a part and most of the teachers even show a genuine concern for their students. Carmel schools have always done excellent academically and the number of students who go on to attend college is really high! In addition, there are a lot of things to do in Carmel. With all of the new development comes new restaurants, new parks, and even a new performance hall. The Monon trail also goes through Carmel and provides a great way to get exercise during the summer months. Oh, and the public library is one of the best in the nation, if you ask me. What can I say but, Carmel Rocks!

[Comment on this Posting]