A growing suburb with a historic legacy near Indianapolis International Airport
Perhaps surprisingly, Plainfield isn’t named for the nearby Central Indiana topography but for the people who founded the city in 1839: Quakers who wanted a “plain” town that reflected their beliefs. Today, this growing Hendricks County suburb just west of Indianapolis International Airport is a dynamic community that remains in touch with its roots even as it continues a dramatic growth spurt.
Though there are expansive farm fields to its west, Plainfield is a tree-filled town largely set between a pair of scenic creeks. West of downtown, many former fields are now sprawling subdivisions that have helped the city grow from just over 10,000 residents in 1990 to more than 37,000 people today.
New build traditional shingle style homes along Debra Ct in Downtown Plainfield.
The Indianapolis International Airport in Ameriplex is located 7 miles from downtown Indy.
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Transportation and infrastructure have long been Plainfield trademarks
Transportation has always been central to Plainfield’s growth. The city was founded here due to its location along the newly developed National Road—which is also why Plainfield first found itself in the national spotlight.
In 1842, former President Martin Van Buren traveled through town on the campaign trail. Locals, unhappy that Van Buren vetoed a funding bill that would have improved the National Road through Plainfield, offered his carriage driver a new silk hat to drive full speed through the roughest stretch of the road. The carriage hit an elm root in the middle of the road, sending Van Buren flying out of the carriage and into a mud pit. The driver got the silk hat.
Whether coincidence or not, sound infrastructure is one of Plainfield’s biggest strengths nearly two centuries later. The city is flanked on three sides by U.S. Route 40, Interstate 70 and Indianapolis International Airport.
A 1,000-acre warehouse district on the city’s east side employs around 5,000 people, which accounts for nearly half of the warehouse jobs in Greater Indianapolis. The Central Indiana Regional Transportation’s Plainfield Connector bus stops at many of those warehouses, including the distribution centers for Amazon, Dick’s Sporting Goods and The Home Depot.
Duke Energy’s Plainfield Office houses the truck fleet used by the electrical provider’s repair crews throughout the Indianapolis region.
Plainfield Correctional Center, on the city’s west side, is another top employer. The medium-security state penitentiary, originally a juvenile facility, houses around 1,600 incarcerated men.
From The Shops at Perry Crossing to Main Street shopping and dining
The Shops at Perry Crossing is an outdoor mall with a movie theater, restaurants and a variety of retail options. For a more “hometown” vibe, locally owned businesses, restaurants and shops can be found along Main Street; the downtown portion extends just a few blocks from South Avon Avenue westward to White Lick Creek. Residents can easily park their car on one end of town and get to the other side on foot while popping in and out of the hair salon, florist, bakery and bike shops.
“All of the businesses are great, and you can always expect to feel welcomed by the people that work there,” says Plainfield resident Allison Motter, who is the Director of Marketing for the Oasis Diner and the Prewitt Restaurant, two downtown dining favorites.
Dairyland, a locally owned market on Main Street, sells grocery essentials. Several big-box stores, such as Walmart, Target and Meijer, are located only 2.5 miles up Main Street from downtown.
Patrons sit at Brew Link Pub's bar in Downtown Plainfield, where the beer is made in house.
Shops line the boulevard at the Perry Crossing Shopping Center in Downtown Plainfield.
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Median home prices below that of Hendricks County neighbors
The median home price in Plainfield is just below $330,000, which is less than Hendricks County neighbors Avon ($350,000) or Brownsburg ($360,000). Prices are higher than in nearby Indianapolis, which has a median of around $250,000. The two Indy neighborhoods bordering Plainfield, Ameriplex and Chapel-Hill Ben Davis, have median prices just above $245,000. The national median home price is just over $400,000.
Craftsman, bungalow and ranch-style homes are common close to downtown and can range from below $200,000 to just under $400,000. Subdivisions of custom-built New Traditional houses are prevalent in the city’s northern and western reaches, ranging from around $300,000 to just over $750,000.
Communities of new traditional style homes have sprung up around Downtown Plainfield.
A French new traditional home on Angela Ct in Downtown Plainfield.
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Standout teachers at Plainfield Community School Corporation
Plainfield’s three elementary schools are just south of Main Street, within walking distance of downtown homes. Plainfield Community Middle School and Plainfield High School are also located in a residential area south of Main Street. Plainfield High’s nickname, the Quakers, reflects the town’s historical legacy.
Niche ranks the city’s school district, Plainfield Community School Corporation, as the No. 6 District with the Best Teachers in Indiana. Niche also gives the district an A-plus score overall, which is influenced by students’ and parents’ positive reviews of academics, clubs, teachers and college prep.
Alternatively, unrated St. Susanna School offers smaller class sizes and a Catholic education for prekindergarten through Grade 8.
Brentwood Elementary School is located in Downtown Plainfield, IN
Clarks Creek Elementary serves students in the Downtown Planfield community.
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Trail system creates a bike-friendly community
With 16 parks and over 30 miles of trails, Plainfield makes it easy to get outside and breathe some fresh air.
“Plainfield has these bike trails that you can use to just ride through the whole town,” Motter says. The city also has a bike-sharing program with docking stations throughout the city.
Hummel Park includes an amphitheater, volleyball courts and a wintertime sled hill. Right across from Hummel Park, locals can fish in Blue Heron Lake and relax alongside White Lick Creek. Alternatively, the Richard A. Carlucci Recreation and Aquatic Center provides an indoor place to swim and work out. It is located right next to Splash Island Family Waterpark, a popular place for families to cool off in the summertime.
The walking trails at Echo Hollow Nature Park are fantastic.
Friendship Gardens Park, a small park just to the south of the main drag in Downtown Plainfield.
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Hendricks County International Festival adds to cosmopolitan feel
The Hendricks County International Festival, held at The Shops at Perry Crossing on the first Saturday of October, features cosmopolitan cuisine and live musical performances free of charge. A new 600-seat theatre, event space and art gallery called Hendricks Live! invigorates downtown Plainfield with creativity and community spirit. The Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library hosts regular events such as crafting workshops and author talks.
Faith is as important to many Plainfield residents today as it was at the city’s founding. Dozens of religious traditions are represented here. The Islamic Society of North America has been based in Plainfield since 1981, and Gurdwara Shaheed Akali Baba Phula Singh ji serves the community’s sizable Sikh population. The Plainfield Friends Church, originally founded by anti-slavery Quakers who relocated from North Carolina in 1851, still has a meeting house in the heart of downtown that hosts the Western Yearly Meeting of Friends Church in addition to regular services.
Crime rates at or below U.S. averages
Property crime rates in Plainfield are on par with national and statewide averages. The Plainfield Police Department’s partnership with Ring Neighbors Public Safety Services facilitates easy communication between police and the public: it allows citizens to share videos from their Ring cameras to aid in investigations. In 2023, the violent crime rate was just over half the national and state averages, representing a decline from the previous year.
Written By
Alex Hickey
Photography Contributed By
Jack Adams
Video By
Paris Lape
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Timothy O'Connor,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Plainfield, IN sell after 40 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Plainfield, IN over the last 12 months is $360,000, up 13% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Cassandra Chandler-DuesELEVATED Homes and Properties
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