Riverside-Normal City
Neighborhood in Muncie, Indiana
Delaware County 47303
Late 19th and early 20th century homes
Riverside-Normal City has an architecturally rich array of homes built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Styles include Tudors, Craftsman homes, farmhouses, American Foursquares, Cape Cods and bungalows. Most of these homes remain as detached single-family designs, while others have been converted into multiunit properties to better accommodate the neighborhood’s increased population of renters. “We’re about 80% renters and 20% homeowners,” Erickson says. Homes here have small front and back yards and an average square footage of 1,600 square feet, slightly larger than in other parts of central Muncie. “I was a downtown dweller of many years,” says resident Cheryl Crowder. “I needed a yard to garden, and that is the only reason I moved out of downtown.” The neighborhood association maintains the area’s greenery, planting new trees yearly. “We receive grants to buy bigger trees,” Erickson says. “Adding more trees benefits everyone–it increases property values and is good for the environment and aesthetics.” Home values here are just above the average for the Muncie metro area, and sales prices range from $65,000 to $250,000, mainly concentrating between $100,000 and $200,000.
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Emerson Dog Park, Tuhey Park and the White River Greenway
The neighborhood association hosts its annual ice cream social at the Emerson Dog Park, the site of a former elementary school. The neighborhood is also home to Tuhey Park, a large city space that is also home to Muncie’s biggest public pool. From here, residents can access the White River, which borders the neighborhood to the south and east and is lined by the White River Greenway, a nearly 6-mile multiuse trail. “I use that trail every day to bike or walk my dog,” Erickson says. The greenway also connects to the Minnetrista Museum & Gardens to the east, an expansive museum campus whose bike- and dog-friendly grounds are free for the public to enjoy.
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Muncie Community Schools
Riverside-Normal City borders Ball State University, so many who live here attend classes at or work for the university. Children here attend West View Elementary School, Northside Middle School and Muncie Central High School. West View Elementary and Northside Middle School have C-plus grades on Niche, and Muncie Central High School has a B-minus. West View Elementary is home to a Spanish dual language immersion program, so students spend as much as 80% of their school day being instructed in Spanish.Walkability, bike lanes and the MITS bus
“You can get around pretty well by foot or by bike, but you need some sort of transportation—car or bus—to get to a grocery store,” Erickson says. Most residents can walk to BSU’s campus in 15 to 20 minutes and to downtown Muncie in 10. The neighborhood also has a MITS bus stop at University and Reserve that connects locals to destinations throughout the city. Right now, the neighborhood does not have bike lanes, but the city plans to add them, and the neighborhood association has actively gathered community feedback. “They wanted to put bike lanes on one of the main thoroughfares, but we didn’t feel comfortable putting our kids on that busy road,” she says. “Now, they plan to put them on Riverside, which is a much better choice.” IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital is a mile-and-a-half or a 5-minute drive away; and when traveling out of town, residents fly out of the Fort Wayne International Airport, 67 miles away, or the Indianapolis International Airport, 75 miles away.
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The Village Revitalization Plan
Riverside-Normal City is less than a mile’s walk from The Village, a commercial district just south of the university. Some of the most popular spots along this strip include the Midwestern chain Brothers Bar and Grill; the Muncie-born burger spot Roots; and Greek’s Pizzeria, a cozy local restaurant known for its breadsticks. Despite housing a few beloved local restaurants, The Village isn't quite what it used to be. “During the industrial heyday of the ‘50s and ‘60s, it was a thriving commercial district with a little mall that rivaled downtown,” Erickson says. “As industrialism began to decline, BSU became the bigger employer as opposed to the factories, and in the ‘70s and ‘80s, The Village started to decline.” To bring more business back into this district, BSU President Geoffrey S. Mearns is currently spearheading the Village Revitalization Plan, which will be anchored by a new theater for the university’s Theatre and Dance program and a Hilton hotel with a rooftop bar. Residents, however, want to ensure that the revitalization plan includes businesses that would best serve the community’s needs. “We don't want just commercial development but also community development,” Erickson says. “One of the things we’re pushing for is to get a grocery store. Students right now have to get on a bus to go to Walmart if they want access to a grocery store. We want a community co-op grocery store where people can go get a sandwich, buy groceries or just hang out.” She explains that all of Muncie’s supermarkets are on the city's outskirts, making buying groceries challenging for students and residents alike. “We need to put people over profit,” she says.
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Crime
Riverside-Normal City has a CAP Index crime score of 4 out of 10, on par with the national average.
Written By
Ellen Daly
Photography Contributed By
Noel Poage
Video By
Charlie Lingner
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Robin DeLuca
Robin DeLuca
F.C. Tucker Company
(888) 861-7177
38 Total Sales
1 in Riverside-Normal City
$63,000 Price
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Matt Glentzer
Matt Glentzer
RE/MAX Evolve
(765) 896-4155
239 Total Sales
2 in Riverside-Normal City
$63,000 Price Range
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Rich Lee
Rich Lee
RE/MAX Real Estate Groups
(765) 217-5168
209 Total Sales
1 in Riverside-Normal City
$150,000 Price
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Lisa Buckner
Lisa Buckner
RE/MAX Real Estate Groups
(765) 722-2697
416 Total Sales
23 in Riverside-Normal City
$80K - $600K Price Range
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Steve Slavin
Steve Slavin
Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group
(888) 409-7231
448 Total Sales
10 in Riverside-Normal City
$48K - $400K Price Range
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Dylan Beck
Dylan Beck
RE/MAX Real Estate Solutions
(765) 575-7671
35 Total Sales
1 in Riverside-Normal City
$135,000 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
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- Pre-K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
West Side Park
Westside Park
White River Park
Emerson Memorial Greenspace Park
Tuhey Park
Delaware County Plaza Green & Veterans Memorial
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Riverside-Normal City | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 4 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 5 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 4 | 4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 4 |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Riverside-Normal City Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Riverside-Normal City, Muncie sell after 27 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Riverside-Normal City, Muncie over the last 12 months is $143,500, down 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$159,950
Median Sale Price
$143,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$143,250
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$164,950
Median Change From 1st List Price
1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
25
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-6%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$88
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
983
Number of Homes for Sale
6
Median Year Built
1925
Months of Supply
2.90
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,596
Below the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,065
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,098
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
5,502
Median Age
25
Population Density
14 ppl/acre
Population under 18
18.6%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
2.7%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$23,422
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$39,821
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
95.2%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
40.3%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
15.5%
% Population in Labor Force
69%
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
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
61
/ 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.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Minnetrista
Homes surrounding the 40-acre Minnetrista Museum & Gardens
Old West End
Historic and walkable urban neighborhood in downtown Muncie
McKinley
Historic housing next to Muncie Central High School
Downtown Muncie
Walkability and community keep residents loving Downtown Muncie
Cowing Park
A centrally located neighborhood beside Minnetrista and Ball State University
Anthony-Northside
A residential community walkable to Ball State University
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