5 Indianapolis suburbs among Top 25 'best' in nation, study says. No. 1 might surprise you

Claire Rafford, Indianapolis Star
·2 min read
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Everyone who lives in an Indianapolis suburb thinks theirs is the best. But Brownsburg residents have another reason to boast that their town is the the winner of the metaphorical suburb battle.

Brownsburg, Indiana is the No. 1 suburb located near a large city, as compared nearly 500 others, a recent study from financial tech company SmartAsset found.

The No. 1 ranking is an accomplishment for the town, Rhonda Wiles, executive director of the Brownsburg Chamber of Commerce, told IndyStar.

"It just shows the work that has been put into growing the town the right way, in the last couple of years, especially since COVID," Wiles said.

Wiles says that what makes Brownsburg special is the welcoming spirit of the people in the community.

"The people in the community are all looking out for each other and collaborating with each other," she said.

The study compared 494 suburbs located between 15 minutes and an hour by car to a “large city,” meaning the city has a population of 250,000 or more. Indianapolis' population was estimated at 882,039 in July 2021, according to census data.

To get the results, SmartAsset analyzed data across the categories of jobs, affordability and livability. Brownsburg specifically ranked top in the jobs and livability categories. Its five-year income growth is nearly 36%, and 10-year job growth is almost 29%.

The study also cited Brownsburg's affordable housing as reason for its No. 1 spot — annual housing costs make up just over 16% of the suburb's median income of $89,089.

Three other suburbs near Indianapolis made the Top 10: Noblesville came in at No. 4 on the list, Fishers at No. 9 and Greenwood at No. 10.

All four, including Brownsburg, score high in jobs and have unemployment rates of 2.5% or lower, as well as 10-year employment growth rates that are over 25%.

While Carmel didn’t make the top 10, the city managed to crack the top 25 — just barely, at the No. 25 spot.

Contact IndyStar trending reporter Claire Rafford at crafford@gannett.com or on Twitter @clairerafford.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Brownsburg, Indiana, is best suburb near large U.S. city, study says