Indianapolis has this reputation for being friendly, affordable, and welcoming. And honestly? That’s mostly true. But like any city with over 900,000 people, there are pockets where things get a little sketchy, especially after dark or if you’re unfamiliar with the area.
You don’t want to spend your visit looking over your shoulder or accidentally wandering into a neighborhood where crime stats make your stomach drop. Whether you’re planning a move, visiting family, or just passing through for a Colts game, knowing which areas to skip can save you from uncomfortable situations.
Let’s talk about the spots that even locals tend to avoid, so you can make smarter choices about where you spend your time and money.
Places to Avoid in Indianapolis
These neighborhoods and areas have earned their reputations through consistently high crime rates, safety concerns, or conditions that make them less than ideal for residents and visitors alike. Here’s what you need to know about each one.
1. The Area Around 38th Street and Post Road
This intersection sits on the east side and consistently ranks as one of the most dangerous spots in the city. The crime data here isn’t pretty. We’re talking about property crimes, vehicle thefts, and violent incidents that happen with uncomfortable frequency.
What makes this area particularly challenging is that it’s not just one isolated block. The problems spread outward from this intersection, affecting several surrounding blocks. Gas stations here have bars on the windows. Businesses close early. There’s a reason for that.
If you’re driving through and need to stop for gas or food, keep going until you hit a better area. The extra five minutes of driving beats dealing with a break-in or worse. Locals who know the city well will purposely take alternate routes to avoid cutting through here, especially after sunset.
2. Martindale-Brightwood Neighborhood
This historically significant neighborhood on the northeast side has struggled for decades with disinvestment and crime. The area runs roughly from 30th to 38th Streets between Sherman Drive and Keystone Avenue. While community organizations are working hard to revitalize it, current conditions remain challenging.
Home values here are among the lowest in the city, which might seem attractive if you’re house hunting on a budget. But there’s a reason for those prices. Violent crime rates run significantly higher than the city average, and property crimes like burglary and theft are common enough that insurance rates reflect the risk.
Walking around during daylight might be okay on main streets, but venture onto side streets or stick around after dark and you’re asking for trouble. Even longtime residents will tell you they don’t feel safe in their own neighborhood at night.
3. The Meadows Area
Located on the far east side near the 10 Freeway, this neighborhood has earned a rough reputation over the past couple decades. What started as affordable housing for working families gradually shifted as economic pressures and crime crept in.
Drug activity is a persistent problem here. You’ll see houses with boards over windows, yards that haven’t been maintained in years, and a general sense of neglect that signals bigger issues. The apartment complexes in this area have particularly poor track records for safety.
Police calls to this neighborhood are frequent. Break-ins, domestic disturbances, and occasional shootings keep law enforcement busy. If you’re looking at rental properties here because the price seems too good to pass up, trust your instincts. It probably is too good to be true.
4. Riverside/Near Westside Along Washington Street
This strip along West Washington Street, particularly between Belmont Avenue and the White River, has pockets of serious concern. While some parts closer to downtown are gentrifying, certain sections remain problematic.
The motels along this corridor are notorious. Several have reputations for drug deals, prostitution, and regular police activity. If you’re visiting Indianapolis and looking for cheap accommodation, avoid the budget motels in this area. You’ll get what you pay for, and it won’t be restful sleep.
That said, this area is patchy. Some blocks are fine, others aren’t. The challenge is knowing which is which, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the city. Better to err on the side of caution and stay elsewhere.
5. Haughville
West of downtown, Haughville has struggled with poverty and crime for generations. The neighborhood sits between Michigan Street and 16th Street, west of White River. It’s one of those areas where even Google Street View looks depressing.
Gang activity has been documented here for years. Territorial disputes occasionally spill over into violence, and innocent people sometimes get caught in the crossfire. The neighborhood has food desert problems too, with few grocery stores and limited access to fresh food.
Community leaders are trying. There are good people here working to make things better. But as an outsider or potential resident, you need to know what you’re walking into. This isn’t a neighborhood where you want to be caught alone after dark or where you’d feel comfortable parking your car on the street overnight.
6. Certain Parts of the Near Eastside
This is tricky because the Near Eastside is actively gentrifying. Some blocks have been completely transformed with new development, trendy restaurants, and rising property values. Other blocks, sometimes just a street or two away, remain deeply troubled.
The area around 10th Street and Rural Street has particular issues. Crime statistics show elevated rates of both property and violent crimes. Car break-ins are common enough that locals know not to leave anything visible in their vehicles, even for a quick errand.
If you’re exploring the Near Eastside, stick to the main commercial corridors during daylight hours. Areas around the new development projects are generally safe. But wandering off into unfamiliar residential streets, especially south of 10th Street, can put you in sketchy territory fast. The transition from safe to unsafe happens within blocks here.
7. Mars Hill
On the northwest side, Mars Hill is another neighborhood with persistent crime problems. It’s bordered roughly by 38th Street to the south, Moller Road to the north, and sits between Michigan Road and Lafayette Road.
This area sees regular gang activity and drug-related crimes. Shootings aren’t daily occurrences, but they happen often enough that residents have become almost desensitized to hearing about them. Schools in this area struggle with safety concerns too.
The housing stock is aging and poorly maintained in many sections. Landlords who care about their properties are the exception rather than the rule. If you’re considering renting here, do serious research on the specific block and property. Talk to current residents if possible. Their candid feedback will tell you what you need to know.
8. Areas Surrounding Washington Park
Washington Park itself is a nice green space on the near northwest side. But the neighborhoods immediately surrounding it, particularly to the south and west, have significant problems. This area has been a hotspot for crime for years.
Drug dealing happens openly in some sections. You’ll see groups congregating on corners in ways that make it obvious what’s going on. Police presence is regular but doesn’t seem to deter the activity for long.
Property crimes are rampant. If you park near the park or in surrounding streets, there’s a real chance you’ll return to a smashed window or missing vehicle. Even residents who live here recommend not parking on the street overnight if you can avoid it.
9. Raymond Street Corridor (Near Southside)
This strip on the near southside has struggled for decades. Raymond Street itself isn’t as problematic as the residential streets branching off it, but the whole area has elevated crime rates and poverty indicators that signal trouble.
Abandoned and boarded-up houses dot the landscape. What businesses exist tend toward payday loan shops, liquor stores, and rundown convenience stores with security glass at the counter. These aren’t signs of a thriving neighborhood.
Violence flares up periodically here. Domestic disturbances, disputes between neighbors, and occasional gang-related incidents keep police busy. As someone unfamiliar with the area, you’d have no reason to come here anyway. There’s nothing drawing visitors, which is probably for the best.
10. Certain Hotel 8 and Budget Motel Strips
This isn’t a specific neighborhood, but it’s worth mentioning. Indianapolis has several corridors where budget motels cluster, and many have serious problems. The strips along East Washington Street (outside downtown), Shadeland Avenue, and some parts of South Emerson Avenue host motels with terrible reputations.
These places attract criminal activity. Drug deals go down in parking lots. Prostitution operates out of rooms. Thefts from vehicles parked outside are common. Management often seems either unable or unwilling to address the problems.
Even if you’re on a tight budget, spending an extra $20-30 per night for a chain hotel in a better location is money well spent. Your safety and your belongings are worth it. Check recent reviews online. If multiple people mention police presence, crime, or feeling unsafe, believe them and book elsewhere.
Wrapping Up
Indianapolis is genuinely a great city with welcoming people, affordable living, and plenty to offer. Most neighborhoods are perfectly safe, and you can enjoy everything from the Cultural Trail to Mass Ave to Broad Ripple without worry.
But pretending every area is equally safe does you no favors. The neighborhoods and areas listed above have earned their reputations through years of statistics and resident experiences. Avoiding them doesn’t make you paranoid or judgmental. It makes you smart.
Do your research, trust your instincts, and stick to the many excellent parts of Indianapolis that make it a city worth visiting or calling home.
