On the southwest side of Muncie, Thomas Park-Avondale is an active neighborhood with plenty of ways to get involved in the community. Residents make friends at The Common Market, a jack-of-all-trades convenience store that also serves as a coffee shop, pizzeria, music venue and unofficial community center. They also hang out at the neighborhood's official community center, the Ross Community Center, as well as at the Maring-Hunt Library, which sits beside the local elementary school. "Maring-Hunt Library is on the south side of Muncie, right next door to South View Elementary," says Susan Fisher, Public Relations Supervisor at the Muncie Public Library. She explains that in addition to offering essential services like free legal aid and healthcare navigational resources, the library also provides social and educational programs too. Others utilize the library for its green spaces, which features picnic pavilions, community gardens and a quarter-mile walking path. "We're a real center point for the neighborhood," she says.
An aerial overview of the Thomas Park - Avondale neighborhood in Muncie, IN.
A bright, colorful mural on display in the Thomas Park - Avondale neighborhood.
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Late 19th and early 20th century cottages
Thomas Park-Avondale has small, historic single-family homes built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Most are simple cottages with white or neutral-toned exteriors and some have small front porches. Architectural designs here range from farmhouse-influenced styles to Craftsmans, with a median floorplan size of only 1,135 square feet. Price points here run lower than the city average, and tend to fall between $50,000 and $100,000, depending primarily on the property's condition. The homes on the lower end of the range are normally coined as investment opportunities, providing buyers with the option to take on a project and customize it, while the upper end of the price range offers fully renovated, turn-key homes.
A cyclist rides past a row of traditional single family homes in Thomas Park - Avondale.
A colorful single family home in the Thomas Park - Avondale neighborhood.
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Community programs at the Ross Community Center and Maring-Hunt Library
Alongside events at The Common Market, residents of Thomas Park-Avondale can make friends at the Ross Community Center or the Maring-Hunt Library. The Ross Community Center offers programs for residents of all ages, like playgroups and early childhood music education for toddlers; youth sports, summer camps and after-school programs for teens; and English- and Spanish-language learning programs for adults. The Maring-Hunt Library also offers a similarly diverse array of programming, ranging from story times and music and movement classes to movie nights and social gatherings. Free services for adults include legal help from Indiana Legal Services; assistance navigating the healthcare marketplace from Open Door Health Services; and professional certifications through the Excel Center, a free high school program for ages 17 and up. The library also has a large green space with garden pavilions built by Ball State University students. "They've been a real boon to the neighborhood," Fisher says. "People love using them for events or to sit and enjoy the outdoors." She adds that the library also has a community garden where people can rent plots or pick their own produce from a shared garden that the library tends. The outdoor area also has a quarter-mile walking track and a story walk, which children and their caregivers can follow to read pages from a story.
The Ross Community Center provides many local services to families and youth in the area.
Let your imagination take flight at the Maring-Hunt Library in the Thomas Park - Avondale area.
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Making friends at coffee shops, bars and The Common Market
Mornings in Thomas Park-Avondale start at Rosebud Coffee House, a local coffee shop with a drive-thru, large interior and private meeting rooms. Specializing in fried entrees, lunches and dinners at the Indy Steak Fish & Chicken restaurant can be enjoyed in-house or for take-out; while Pizza King, is the local pizza chain and features a casual atmosphere with Tiffany lamps hanging above every booth. For a night out, folks sip beer or play pool at one of three neighborhood bars – Buttonhole Bar on the north, Walt's Lil Triangle on the west, or Gene's Lounge to the south. The neighborhood's most unique establishment is perhaps The Common Market. This convenience store sells pizza and hosts just about any and every event imaginable. Clubs meet here regularly, music lessons and comedy workshops are taught, and local musicians take the stage for band performances and open mic nights. On Saturday nights from June through October, The Common Market also hosts its weekly vendor market which showcases art and fresh produce for sale.
Rosebud Coffee House is a popular place to hang out in the Thomas Park - Avondale neighborhood.
The Common Market also has a community room in the back where residents work on sewing projects.
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Playgrounds and the Crestview Golf Club
Thomas Park is the neighborhood's largest public green space and features a large playground, splash pad and picnic pavilion. The neighborhood is also home to Rose Park, which has a playground, ballfield and picnic pavilion, and sits adjacent to the Ross Community Center. On the neighborhood's south end, Crestview Golf Club is a public golf course with a clubhouse and events like Friday night couples' golf, live music on the range and an annual parent and child scramble.
An aerial overview of the Thomas Park in Muncie, IN.
Residents can play a round of golf at the Crestview Golf Club in the Thomas Park - Avondale area
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Getting around Muncie
Thomas Park-Avondale is a car-dependent neighborhood 2 miles southwest of downtown Muncie. Driving downtown from here takes five to 10 minutes or 15 minutes on the Muncie Indiana Transit System (MITS) bus. The closest medical center, IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, is 3 miles away. When traveling out of town, residents fly out of the Fort Wayne International Airport, 69 miles away, or the Indianapolis International Airport, 73 miles away.
The local MITS provides bus transportation throughout Muncie and the Thomas Park - Avondale area
The Thomas Park - Avondale neighborhood with Downtown Muncie in the background.
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Advanced academics at Muncie Community Schools
Thomas Park-Avondale is home to South View Elementary, which has a C-minus rating on Niche. After South View Elementary, students may attend the C-minus-rated Southside Middle School and the B-minus-rated Muncie Central High School. Muncie Community Schools also offers a high-ability program for selected elementary school students, honors programs for middle schoolers, and an early college program in conjunction with the Ivy Tech Community College for high schoolers.
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
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Charlotte Cotton,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
West Side Park
Thomas Park
Maring-Hunt Library Garden
Minnetrista Museum & Gardens
Rose Park
Ross Community Center
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Thomas Park-Avondale
US
Homicide
6
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
5
4
Robbery
5
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Thomas Park-Avondale Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Thomas Park-Avondale, Muncie sell after 39 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Thomas Park-Avondale, Muncie over the last 12 months is $68,000, down 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Discover this charming and truly move-in ready 2-bedroom home, boasting a completely new interior (2025)! Conveniently situated on Muncie’s vibrant Southwest side, this property offers incredible curb appeal with its attractive brick and stucco exterior, a welcoming covered front porch, and a secure, chain-link fenced yard. Enjoy peace of mind with recent updates including a full bath remodel
Step into modern elegance! This spacious 5-bedroom, 2.5-bath home boasts 2,491 sqft of beautifully updated living space. Featuring brand-new flooring, fresh paint, and sleek new appliances, this home combines style and functionality. The kitchen and bathrooms have been tastefully upgraded, offering a contemporary feel with premium finishes. With ample space for comfortable living and
Cozy 2-bedroom, 1-bath home includes a full unfinished basement. As you enter, you're greeted by the newer flooring in the living room, dining room, main floor bedroom. The kitchen has been completely remodeled in 2021-2022 with new cabinets, countertop, backsplash, stainless steel appliances, and pantry. The dining room also includes additional cabinets, countertop space, and backsplash. The
Property Id: 1742854Completely updated, new flooring, new bath, new kitchen with three bedrooms, two bathrooms close to Ball State, library, parks and shopping. Schools within 1 mile. Must see!
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Charlotte Cotton,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
4,070
Median Age
39
Population Density
5 ppl/acre
Population under 18
24.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
17%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$47,843
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$50,948
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
81.8%
College Graduates
4.1%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
0.6%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
62.2%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
42''
Average Winter Low Temperature
16°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
9''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
43/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
35/ 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.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
