Laid-back living and easy commuting in Lapel
The small town of Lapel offers an easygoing atmosphere and proximity to employment and entertainment hubs in nearby Hamilton County, without the Hamilton County price tag. “There’s a four-way stop, and the joke is that if you blink, you’d miss Lapel,” says longtime resident Norris Teeters, who sold homes in town with RE/MAX At The Crossing for 10 years. “There are people who have family in Fishers and Noblesville, and those towns have grown incredibly. When they want a little bit of a slower pace and a smaller school, they come back to Lapel.”
The town of 2,500 has agricultural roots that still run deep. Community members rallied to help local farmers after two tornadoes hit the outskirts of Lapel in April 2025. “It was amazing seeing how many people from the community were out in those fields the next couple of days after that. They were helping get the fields cleaned out so the farmers were ready to plant,” Teeters says. “A lot of them probably didn’t even know each other, they were just out there to help. That’s what Lapel is all about.”
Midcentury homes and new builds at a lower price than Hamilton County
Part of Lapel’s appeal is its lower price point compared to towns in Hamilton County, Madison County’s fast-growing neighbor. Noblesville has a median price of roughly $400,000 and Fishers has a median price of $450,000, while Lapel’s median price hovers around $250,000.
Many of Lapel’s original homes were constructed between the early to mid-1900s. Midcentury cottages, bungalows, ranch-style and gable-front homes are common, but Lapel has had significant residential development in the past few years. New builds in subdivisions typically feature traditional, modern farmhouse and Craftsman-style homes, and some subdivisions have monthly HOA fees.
Cheering on the Lapel High School Bulldogs
Kids may attend schools in the Frankton-Lapel Community Schools district. Lapel Elementary School and Lapel Middle School both receive a B-minus grade from Niche. Lapel High School, rated B, offers Advanced Placement courses and dual-credit classes through a partnership with Ivy Tech and Indiana University. Locals take pride in the district’s small enrollment — graduating class sizes are typically 100 or fewer — and its competitive sports teams. “A lot of the community gatherings are basketball games and football games,” Teeter says. “Whenever a sports team wins a sectional or a tournament or something, they’ll get them on the firetrucks and take the team down Main Street, honking their sirens. I live on Main Street and people will go out on the front porch and start clapping and cheering them on.”
Parks in town and concerts at Ruoff Music Center
Lapel has a small but mighty assembly of parks and green spaces. Youth league sports are popular at Brookside Park, which has a baseball and softball complex with four fields, a playground and a walking trail. Memorial Park has the town’s skatepark, while Woodward Park is home to a splash pad, playground and walking trail. Locals are less than 10 miles from outdoor concerts at Ruoff Music Center — Indiana's largest outdoor performance venue — and boating on Geist Reservoir. Harrah’s Hoosier Park Casino Racetrack is about 12 miles away.
Dining in downtown Lapel and shopping at Hamilton Town Center
Lapel’s few shops and restaurants are concentrated downtown on Main Street. King Dough serves pizza by the slice and shares a patio space with Pax Verum Brewing Company. Diners can grab a carry-out pie and bring it to the brewery. Smoky’s Concession Stand is a funky pizza and barbecue joint run by the same team behind FoxGardin Kitchen & Ale in Fortville. A Dollar General has essentials, but residents have to leave town for a proper grocery store. “Whenever we need something, we go to Noblesville,” Teeter says. “Hamilton Town Center is about 10 minutes away if you take the back roads from Lapel.” The open-air mall has dozens of name-brand retailers, boutiques and restaurants.
Locals look forward to sporting events and the annual Village Fair
The Lapel Village Fair is a long-running community tradition. “A lot of people who moved away from Lapel come back just for that,” Teeter says. The two-day event features live music, vendors, food and a parade.
Less than 10 miles from Anderson and Noblesville
Noblesville, Anderson and Interstate 69 are about 15 away. Commuters can reach downtown Indianapolis in about 45 minutes via I-69. Medical care is less than 20 minutes away in Fishers at IU Health Saxony Hospital and Ascension St. Vincent.
Written By
Leslie Klosterman
