Indianapolis, IN Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions: Indianapolis Crime & Safety

Is Indianapolis safe to live in?

By the numbers, Indianapolis holds up well against many comparable metros. Across 98 neighborhoods analyzed for 2026, 90% earned a combined A or B safety grade — 60.2% landed at Grade A and 29.6% at Grade B. Only 1% of neighborhoods (a single area) received a D grade, and zero neighborhoods received an F. The city-wide safety rating is B (Safe), even though the overall crime grade is C, reflecting the fact that the majority of residential neighborhoods are well below the city's aggregate crime level. Areas like Geist (A+), Meridian Hills / Williams Creek (A+), and South Franklin (A+) consistently rank among the safest, while a small cluster — including Crown Hill (D-) and Near Northwest / Riverside (C-) — pulls the city-wide average downward. For most residents choosing where to live, the data points toward a city that is substantially safer than its overall grade suggests.

What is the crime rate in Indianapolis, and how does it break down by neighborhood?

Indianapolis's 98 analyzed neighborhoods span the full grade spectrum, though the distribution skews heavily toward the safe end. Here is the precise breakdown for 2026:

• Grade A (lowest crime): 59 neighborhoods — 60.2% of all areas studied
• Grade B: 29 neighborhoods — 29.6%
• Grade C (moderate crime): 9 neighborhoods — 9.2%
• Grade D (elevated crime): 1 neighborhood — 1.0%
• Grade F: 0 neighborhoods — 0%

The combined A+B share of 90% means nine out of ten Indianapolis neighborhoods are considered safe. The combined D+F share is just 1%. Neighborhoods flagged for elevated crime include Crown Hill (D-), Mapleton / Fall Creek (C-), Near Northwest / Riverside (C-), Meadows (C), and Martindale / Brightwood (C). These areas are concentrated in specific corridors and do not represent the city's broader residential character.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Indianapolis in 2026?

Ten neighborhoods earned the top A+ grade in this analysis. Ranked by safety score, they are:

1. Geist — A+ | Population: 10,081 | Median Income: $157,518
2. Glenn's Valley — A+ | Population: 7,896 | Median Income: $98,909
3. Acton — A+ | Population: 3,099 | Median Income: $92,782
4. Galludet — A+ | Population: 11,740 | Median Income: $99,341
5. New Bethel — A+ | Population: 2,517 | Median Income: $114,816
6. Poplar Grove — A+ | Population: 4,076 | Median Income: $94,415
7. South Franklin — A+ | Population: 16,962 | Median Income: $102,145
8. I-65 / South Emerson — A+ | Population: 15,237 | Median Income: $78,468
9. West Newton — A+ | Population: 3,559 | Median Income: $87,997
10. Meridian Hills / Williams Creek — A+ | Population: 4,854 | Median Income: $134,405

Eight of these ten neighborhoods report median household incomes above $90,000 — more than 75% higher than the city median of $50,813 — which correlates strongly with their low crime grades. Collectively, these A+ communities are home to roughly 80,000 residents and represent a range of housing price points, from the affluent lakeside enclave of Geist to the more modestly priced I-65 / South Emerson corridor.

Which neighborhoods in Indianapolis have the highest crime?

Only 1 out of 98 neighborhoods — or 1% of areas analyzed — received a D grade, and no neighborhood earned an F. The areas with the most elevated crime grades in 2026 are:

• Crown Hill — Grade D- (the single highest-crime neighborhood in the dataset)
• Near Northwest / Riverside — Grade C-
• Mapleton / Fall Creek — Grade C-
• Meadows — Grade C
• Martindale / Brightwood — Grade C

It is worth noting that even the worst-rated neighborhood, Crown Hill, received a D- rather than an F — meaning no Indianapolis neighborhood falls into the absolute highest crime tier. That said, residents and visitors to these areas should exercise standard urban precautions, stay aware of surroundings, and consult the interactive crime map for block-level incident data before making housing or travel decisions.

Is Indianapolis a good place to live based on crime and cost of living?

The data paints a nuanced but largely positive picture. Indianapolis has a median home value of $143,586 and a median rent of $911/month — both well below national averages — making it one of the more affordable major metros in the Midwest. Pair that with the fact that 90% of neighborhoods grade out as safe (A or B), and the value proposition for homebuyers and renters is strong. The city's median household income of $50,813 and unemployment rate of 5.7% are in line with comparable Midwestern cities, though the poverty rate of 16.9% and a population density of 928 per square mile reflect the economic diversity typical of large urban centers. For families prioritizing safety, neighborhoods like South Franklin (pop. 16,962, A+) and Galludet (pop. 11,740, A+) offer larger community sizes with top-tier safety grades at accessible price points.

How does Indianapolis's overall crime grade compare to its neighborhood-level safety rating?

This is one of the most important distinctions in the 2026 data. Indianapolis carries an overall crime grade of C, yet its city-wide safety rating is B (Safe) — and 90% of individual neighborhoods grade A or B. How is that possible? City-wide crime grades aggregate all reported incidents across the entire metro, including commercial corridors, transit hubs, and the small number of high-crime neighborhoods like Crown Hill (D-). Those concentrated hotspots elevate the aggregate score disproportionately. When you look at where people actually live, the picture improves substantially: 60.2% of residential neighborhoods earn an A, and only 1% earn a D or worse. The takeaway is that Indianapolis's C overall grade should not be read as a uniform city-wide condition — it is heavily influenced by a handful of specific areas, while the vast majority of the city's 98 neighborhoods remain safe by measurable standards.