East Central
A mix of fixer-uppers and fully restored historic homes
East Central is lined with large, colorful homes with ornate exteriors and lots of character. A hub of historic architecture, homes here date back to the mid-1800s and reflect design elements common to both the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The neighborhood primarily features Victorian and post-Victorian era homes with architectural elements ranging from Italianate to Greek Revival and Gothic Revival. Queen Anne, Free Classic and Colonial Revival styles are also common here, while the turn of the 20th century brought new aesthetics to the neighborhood, like Tudors and American Foursquares. East Central best suits those interested in restoring a historic property, as most homes are in need of significant renovations. The charm of these homes, however, offers endless opportunities for the right buyer. Price points in East Central depend on whether or not a home has been partially or fully renovated. For those that have undergone renovations, sales prices will range from $100,000 to $150,000, whereas fixer-uppers generally sell for $50,000 to $100,000. Houses here are larger than in other neighborhoods in Muncie, with an average home size of 2,000 square feet and some boasting as many as five or six bedrooms.
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Explore the Cardinal Greenway from the Muncie Depot Trailhead
The Cardinal Greenway, a converted railroad that's now a 62-mile trail, spans five counties in east central Indiana and cuts through the neighborhood. East Central is also home to the Cardinal Greenway Muncie Depot Trailhead, a former train station turned visitor center. Here residents can speak with the trail staff to answer any navigation or history-related questions, before heading out for a hike. Each summer, the trail also hosts the Cardinal Century Ride which features multiple routes of 100 miles distance, with start and finish at the Muncie Depot. The Cardinal Greenway also connects to East Central's Hughes Nature Preserve, a 7-acre urban park along the White River, which borders East Central to the north. On the neighborhood's north end, Greenway Pocket Park is another smaller green space along the Cardinal Greenway.
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First Thursdays in downtown Muncie
East Central sits beside downtown Muncie, which hosts multiple cultural events throughout the year, like the city's weekly 'gallery crawl' held on the first Thursday of every month. "Watch and learn from local artists as they perform their craft, support vendors and explore the downtown community," says Cheryl Crowder, the events director for the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership. Art exhibits and demonstrations occur at venues throughout the neighborhood, including Cornerstone Center for the Arts, an arts education center and gallery. Downtown Muncie also hosts a free outdoor concert series each summer called Muncie Three Trails Music Series. "The mission of the series is to bring critically acclaimed, national recording artists to perform free concerts at Canan Commons," Crowder says. Throughout the year, Elm Street Brewing Company hosts open mic nights on Tuesdays, while the Heorot Pub and Draught House holds them on Thursdays. The Clubhouse Muncie hosts trivia on Wednesday nights and the 1925 PubHouse has trivia on Thursdays.East Central residents can get to know their neighbors by attending events put on by the East Central Neighborhood Association. The group hosts gathering throughout the year, like alley cleanups, an annual picnic and an Easter egg hunt. In September, the Old Washington Street Festival celebrates Muncie's Gas Boom Era with artists' demonstrations set up in the street. That same weekend, the neighborhood hosts a historic home tour to display the community's architecture.
Fine dining in an 1800s home and creative pizzas at a brewery
Having downtown Muncie right next door provides East Central's residents with abundant dining options, but there are also plenty of restaurants to explore within the neighborhood itself. For example, the Guardian Brewing Company features an on-site bar and restaurant that makes creative pizzas with vegan crusts and beer-infused sauces. They also encourage their staff and customers to try out different topping combinations to find new creations to add to their menu. The Adams Street Chophouse is perhaps the finest restaurant in Muncie, located in a home built in 1865, its dining rooms feature interior decor inspired by the 1920s. Inside, the speakeasy vibes are embellished with Prohibition-era cocktails, jazz tunes and a patio with live music. Quicker meals can be picked up from the neighborhood's McDonald's, known for its large vintage sign out front, or Rally's, a burger spot easily identified by its shiny space age exterior. Groceries are available three blocks west at The Downtown Farm Stand, and all other shopping gets done at the Muncie Mall, nearly 3 miles north of East Central.
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Walk to downtown from East Central
East Central is located immediately east of Downtown Muncie, about a half mille away, making it a 5- to 10-minute walk away for most. There are no bus stops in East Central, but from downtown, residents can take the Muncie Indiana Transit System bus's 15 different routes to get around the city, including a 20-minute route to the nearby Ball State University. The closest medical center to East Central is IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, nearly 3 miles away. While the closest major airports to Muncie are the Fort Wayne International Airport, 67 miles away, and the Indianapolis International Airport, 75 miles away.
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Attending East Washington Academy
East Central is home to East Washington Academy, the public elementary school for the neighborhood, and many families walk their kids to school. East Washington Academy has a B rating and ranks as Delaware County's seventh-best public elementary school on Niche. From there, students continue to the C-plus-rated Northside Middle School and B-minus-rated Muncie Central High School. Muncie Central High School students can earn college credit through dual enrollment courses with Ivy Tech Community College.Postsecondary education continues at Ball State University, about 2 miles west of the neighborhood. Residents can drive there in 5 minutes, bike there in 10 minutes or take the bus from downtown to get there in 20 minutes.
Crime
East Central has a 5 out of 10 crime score on the CAP Index, which is slightly above the national average of 4.
Written By
Ellen Daly
Photography Contributed By
Noel Poage
Video By
Andrew Perrius
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Steve Slavin
Steve Slavin
Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group
(888) 409-7231
437 Total Sales
2 in East Central
$78K - $132K Price Range
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Lisa Buckner
Lisa Buckner
RE/MAX Real Estate Groups
(765) 722-2697
425 Total Sales
6 in East Central
$13K - $179K Price Range
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Fred Krawczyk
Fred Krawczyk
Envoy Real Estate, LLC
(317) 644-4322
107 Total Sales
1 in East Central
$260,000 Price
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Autumn Grismore
Autumn Grismore
Responds QuicklyWagner Auctioneering and Real Estate
(765) 228-2459
93 Total Sales
2 in East Central
$55K - $60K Price Range
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Danielle Shouse
Danielle Shouse
Responds QuicklyShouse Realty Group LLC
(866) 753-1367
110 Total Sales
1 in East Central
$125,000 Price
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Kelly Wood
Kelly Wood
Responds QuicklyRE/MAX at the Crossing
(888) 618-5047
183 Total Sales
1 in East Central
$45,000 Price
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
- K to 12th
- Public
- Pre-K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Gilbert Park
Washington Park
Cardinal Greenway
Cornerstone Park
McCulloch Park
Greenway Pocket Park
Minnetrista Museum & Gardens
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | East Central | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 7 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 5 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 6 | 4 |
| Robbery | 6 | 4 |
| Burglary | 6 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
| Larceny | 5 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
East Central Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in East Central, Muncie sell after 27 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in East Central, Muncie over the last 12 months is $559,990, up 120% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$559,990
Median Sale Price
$559,990
Median Single Family Sale Price
$559,990
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
13
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
120%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$169
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
359
Number of Homes for Sale
0
Median Year Built
1893
Months of Supply
0.00
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,008
On par with the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,330
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
5,662
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
1,261
Median Age
38
Population Density
5 ppl/acre
Population under 18
23.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15.1%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$27,049
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$36,121
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
72.4%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
13.7%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
2.8%
% Population in Labor Force
52.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
42''
Average Winter Low Temperature
16°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
9''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
69
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
39
/ 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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