SperlingViews - Carmel, Indiana

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.[read more...]

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![read more...]

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. [read more...]

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.[read more...]

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.[read more...]

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.[read more...]

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.[read more...]

Seems to be booming[read more...]

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

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

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.[read more...]

Good place for housewives to shop and drink coffee.[read more...]

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.[read more...]

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!!!![read more...]

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.[read more...]

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![read more...]

Carmel is a nice place with the exception of the overgrown, overcrowded, too big high school in town. We moved away because of the high school. The community does not seem to want to split it and does not seem to put the kids first, only their egos. Come on' Carmel, Fishers was voted one of the best places to live by Money magazine over you, possibly, because of the schools. Too darn cold, also.[read more...]

Very little political reasoning here except..don't raise my property taxes. Boring place overall.[read more...]

I would agree with the comments about the sheltered life and lack of work ethic. This is not a friendly community. I have lived in the area for a few years and work directly with the public in the city and I can't figure out the people who live here. The main point of their life is living a very safe life, threfore the place is quite boring. I don't know what the police to citizen ratio is...but it seems that there are police everywhere. In fact the lack of warmth in the community is enforced by the threat of being pulled over whenever you leave your home. Of course city hall is a palace (lots of revenue from police tickets!). On a positive note the place is affluent which means it is quiet, safe and there is access to relatively good shopping within a few miles and a well- stocked library. The information about black people is a bit overstated I would guess. I don't think anyone is above suspicion, although the place is very homogenous. The place is crawling with families of average intelligence with spoiled children. The adults have a knack for making money and then walling themselves off from the world and crying when they don’t get what they want. What a waste of space. [read more...]

I would agree with the comments about the sheltered life and lack of work ethic. This is not a friendly community. I have lived in the area for a few years and work directly with the public in the city and I can't figure out the people who live here. The main point of their life is living a very safe life, threfore the place is quite boring. I don't know what the police to citizen ratio is...but it seems that there are police everywhere. In fact the lack of warmth in the community is enforced by the threat of being pulled over whenever you leave your home. Of course city hall is a palace (lots of revenue from police tickets!). On a positive note the place is affluent which means it is quiet, safe and there is access to relatively good shopping within a few miles and a well- stocked library. The information about black people is a bit overstated I would guess. I don't think anyone is above suspicion, although the place is very homogenous. The place is crawling with families of average intelligence with spoiled children. The adults have a knack for making money and then walling themselves off from the world and crying when they don’t get what they want. What a waste of space. [read more...]