Family keeps residents rooted in Middletown
About midway between Muncie, Anderson and New Castle, Middletown is an agricultural community of just over 2,000 people. Generational ties and solid schools draw buyers to the town. “There are a lot of people who graduated from Shenandoah schools who are still around,” says Samuel Schlagel, a Realtor with F.C. Tucker. “If you’re looking for a quiet place and a decent place to raise a family, Middletown is good for that.” Farming and faith are important parts of life for many Middletown residents, as evidenced by the small town's abundance of churches within one square mile.
College credit and extracurriculars at Shenandoah schools
The Shenandoah School Corporation serves roughly 1,300 students from across the area. Shenandoah Elementary School receives a B-plus from Niche, while Shenandoah Middle is rated B. Shenandoah High receives a C-plus and offers college credit through Advanced Placement courses and dual credit at Ivy Tech and Indiana University. The district touts small class sizes and a thriving Future Farmers of America program.
Central to Anderson, New Castle and Muncie
“It’s Middletown, so it’s midway between Muncie, Anderson and New Castle,” Schlagel says, “but it still takes a little while to get to I-69 or I-70.” Most locals head to Anderson for shopping and services, about 10 miles away, while Muncie and New Castle are both about 15 miles away. Anderson also has the closest emergency room at Community Hospital. Indianapolis and Indianapolis International Airport are about an hour away via I-69.
Older stock and steady demand shape housing market
The majority of Middletown’s housing stock was constructed before 1970. Today, the median sale price of a single-family home is about $220,000, slightly less than the Daleville median of roughly $250,000. “The prices are pretty strong,” Schlagel says. “It is a desired place to purchase a home, so there have been some homes that have been a little overpriced. But if a home has a little bit of land or if it’s a nice brick home, they go pretty quick.”
Dietrich Park and Honey Creek Trail offer outdoor fun
Dietrich Memorial Park is the beating heart of the community with a youth sports complex, playgrounds and a splash pad. A new addition to town is the Honey Creek Trail, a roughly 5-mile paved path that passes through town, including Dietrich Memorial Park, and connects to the community of Honey Creek. “It’s a couple of years old and it follows an old railroad track, and I’d say that’s a big draw for people,” Schlagel says. Golfers hit the links at Valley View Golf Course on Fall Creek, an 18-hole course that’s open to the public.
Locally owned restaurants in town, more options in Anderson
Middletown’s retail and restaurant options are limited, but there are a handful of locally owned restaurants in town. “We have a pretty popular pizza restaurant called Papa Pepperoni’s Pizza, and we have a Mexican restaurant and a Chinese restaurant,” Schlagel says. “Harvest Market is in town and has the best meat counter around.” Belgian Horse Winery is a couple miles outside of town. The winery and tasting room regularly has live music, food trucks and events. More dining options are in Anderson. For retail shopping, most locals head to Anderson or the Hamilton Town Center outdoor mall, about 30 minutes away.
Written By
Leslie Klosterman
