Near West Side
Neighborhood in Bloomington, Indiana
Monroe County 47404
Diverse neighborhood with South Indiana’s distinct gabled-ell homes
Historically, Near West Side was a prominent Black community, in part due to the Showers Brothers being one of the few integrated employers during a time of segregation. “The other thing that really grabbed us is the neighborhood has more diversity than a lot of places we’ve been in the past,” says Tom Payne, vice president of the Near West Side Neighborhood Association. “We liked the idea of a neighborhood that has been historically diverse, if not historically Black.” Homes here include gabled-ell and gable front cottages and a few Queen Annes. Many homes here also feature vivid color schemes, which Payne says exudes a Bohemian feel. This neighborhood’s designation as a historic district protects this community and requires all housing alterations to undergo a thorough approval process. The majority of homes in Near West Side date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries and cost from just under $200,000 to $400,000. Some of the more prominent homes can even reach upwards of $600,000. Renters also make up about half of this neighborhood’s residents.Butler Park, Girls Inc. camps and the Banneker Community Center
Rev. Ernest D. Butler Park has a playground and hills perfect for sledding during the winter. The Banneker Community Center, formerly a school for African American students, now runs various youth programs. Its facilities include a kitchen, a gym and a small library. The neighborhood’s local Girls Inc. affiliate is part of a larger national organization that provides educational and recreational programs for young girls. Its activities include summer camps, sports teams and outings to regional destinations like Monroe Lake. “It’s a fun little neighborhood. The location is awesome because you can walk to anything downtown. The B-Line, the walking path, is the northern border of the neighborhood and goes right around it. The accessibility there is really amazing,” says Angela Van Rooy, the city’s neighborhood services program manager.Fairview Elementary's Arts Integration and Performing Arts program
The neighborhood is also home to Fairview Elementary, which gets a B from ratings site Niche. Fairview’s activities include the Arts Integration and Performing Arts program, which involves partnerships with local artists. In addition, Indiana University’s renowned Jacobs School of Music provides Fairview’s first and second graders with the opportunity to learn how to play the violin. Neighborhood students may then attend Tri-North Middle School and finish their public education at Bloomington High School North. Both schools earn A grades from Niche.Summer potlucks, holiday parties and MLK Day pancake breakfast
Although Near West Side is close to the cultural attractions downtown and as well as those at IU, the neighborhood stays active with its own events too. The neighborhood association hosts a holiday party in December and a potluck at Butler Park during the summer. The Banneker Community Center is also a frequent meetup point. Activities include art shows and a free community pancake breakfast to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.Within convenient walking distance of downtown Bloomington and IU
Near West Side’s narrow roads help make this community walkable and it’s not uncommon for residents to travel on foot to downtown Bloomington and IU’s campus. However, the Bloomington Transit system does maintain several bus stops along Kirkwood Avenue and North Rogers Street. Kirkwood connects residents directly to downtown, which is only a few blocks east. Near West Side is also about a mile from Interstate 69, which many use to commute to Indianapolis, more than 50 miles north of Bloomington. The Indianapolis International Airport serves as the region’s hub for commercial flights, and for medical care, the IU Health Bloomington Hospital is located about 4 miles away.Juannita’s and the Bloomington Farm Stop Collective
Juannita’s is a popular Mexican restaurant run out of a two-story yellow house in Near West Side. Its menu includes items like plates of tamales and churros for dessert. Nearby, Hinkle’s Hamburgers has long been another favorite especially for this community’s old-timers. The Bloomington Farm Stop Collective sells everything from coffee to various types of meat and produce from local farmers, and Near West Side is also just a few blocks from the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market, which runs every Saturday between April and October. For other needs, this neighborhood is only a few minutes from downtown Bloomington, which has plenty of additional restaurants, bars and boutiques. Kroger is one of the nearest chain grocery stores.Important to know
Near West Side has an overall CAP Index crime score of 9 out of 10, which is almost double the national average. Burglary and larceny incidents, in particular, influence this score.
Written By
Yann Ranaivo
Photography Contributed By
Zach Manwell
Video By
Victoria York
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Agents Specializing in this Area
-
Ron Plecher
Ron Plecher
RE/MAX Realty Professionals
(930) 322-1602
215 Total Sales
1 in Near West Side
$579,950 Price
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Janet Lane
Janet Lane
Century 21 Scheetz - Bloomington
(930) 322-1720
133 Total Sales
1 in Near West Side
$217,000 Price
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Lance DaSilva
Lance DaSilva
Century 21 Scheetz - Bloomington
(540) 701-0075
54 Total Sales
2 in Near West Side
$45K - $328K Price Range
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Jeffrey Franklin
Jeffrey Franklin
Responds QuicklyFC Tucker/Bloomington REALTORS
(930) 322-1595
340 Total Sales
1 in Near West Side
$450,000 Price
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Amber Wilson
Amber Wilson
United Real Estate Indpls
(833) 599-1918
125 Total Sales
1 in Near West Side
$579,950 Price
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Gretchen Nall
Gretchen Nall
Bloomington Rentals and Realty
(930) 219-5080
92 Total Sales
7 in Near West Side
$50K - $295K Price Range
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 7th to 8th
- Public
- Pre-K to 6th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Rev Ernest D Butler Park
B-Line Trail
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Near West Side | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 6 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 9 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 6 | 4 |
| Robbery | 7 | 4 |
| Burglary | 10 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 7 | 4 |
| Larceny | 10 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 9 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Near West Side Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Near West Side, Bloomington sell after 47 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Near West Side, Bloomington over the last 12 months is $294,000, up 9% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$339,000
Median Sale Price
$294,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$299,900
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
8
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
9%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$204
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
261
Number of Homes for Sale
9
Median Year Built
1920
Months of Supply
13.50
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,392
Significantly below the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,783
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,534
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
616
Median Age
38
Population under 18
17%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$41,354
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$66,140
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
98.7%
College Graduates
63.4%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
36.4%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
73.8%
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
84
/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
71
/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
33
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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