Mars Hill
A range of houses reflect neighborhood's former unicorporated status
Because Mars Hill never had zoning laws prior to being incorporated into Indianapolis in 1970, some streets are on a clear grid while others are winding and curvy. Lots come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Most houses are bungalows, ranches or cottages. There are also split-level houses in the neighborhood. Fixer-uppers range from $40,000-88,000. Renovated homes and homes built in the 1990s and 2000s can range from $99,000-340,000.Convenient access to airport and interstate brings pros and cons
Brandon Wilson, owner of Wilson Trust Realty, keeps it real with clients looking for homes in Mars Hill. “It’s by the airport, so there’s air traffic. It’s not the quietest area,” Wilson says. “But it is affordable. I used to work at the airport, and it would be a perfect location to live.” Interstates 465 and 70 form neighborhood boundaries, which also contributes to truck traffic in Mars Hill. In addition, garbage trucks trek to the Southside Landfill in the southeast corner of the neighborhood – simultaneously creating traffic and beating up local roadways with potholes.Mel's Drive-Thru a step back in time
Mars Hill residents don’t need Doc Brown’s DeLorean to go back to 1955. They can just park at Mel’s Drive-Thru, where presumably little has changed over the years but the prices. Car hops deliver burgers, tenderloin sandwiches and milkshakes to customers at this long-running slice of Americana. A more recent addition to the neighborhood is Mota Tacos, a simply adorned taqueria that’s already a Mars Hill favorite after less than a year in business. There is a Kroger location for neighborhood grocery shopping.Buffer Park a top-rated 9-hole layout
Stout Field Park is the largest in the neighborhood, featuring a walking path, playground, splash pad and basketball court. The Mars Hill Pocket Park, next to Community Caring and Sharing Center, is a mostly gravel area with monkey bars and picnic tables. The neighborhood’s Buffer Park Golf Course – the rare par-36, 9-hole layout – is considered one of the best bargains in Indianapolis golf. Walkers can play 9 holes for $20 or pay $30 for 9 holes with a golf cart.Decatur and Wayne Township schools serve neighborhood
Mars Hill is part of two different school districts. Students south of Troy Avenue attend Decatur Township schools. Pre-K and kindergarten students start at Liberty Early Elementary before moving to Stephen Decatur Elementary, which receives a C-rating on Niche. Seventh and eighth graders attend C-rated Decatur Middle School before advancing to B-rated Decatur Central High. Students north of Troy Ave. are in the Wayne Township district. Elementary students attend C-plus rated Stout Field Elementary, which made national news for its “No One Eats Alone” lunchroom program that was created to combat social isolation. Middle schoolers attend B-minus rated Lynhurst 7th and 8th Grade Center. High schoolers attend Ben Davis High, which is about 7 miles northwest of Mars Hill. Ben Davis, known as a high school football and basketball power, gets a B-rating on Niche.Community centers and houses of worship create welcoming atmosphere
Multiple organizations give Mars Hill a community-first feel. “It is a welcoming community,” says Lisa Schmitz, founder of Mars Hill Arts Center. “The people are very family-oriented and friendly, but also very proud. There are a lot of generational residents -- people that have lived here forever.” The Arts Center offers pottery, sculpting and other art classes for neighborhood residents. George T. Goodwin Community Center organizes events for local senior citizens. There are also more than a dozen houses of worship in Mars Hill, including Eglise Evangelique Des Sanctifies, a Haitian-American Evangelical Church, and the Sikh Society of Indiana’s Museum and Library.White River tributaries bring flood risks
The CAP Index gives Mars Hill a crime score of 6/10, which slightly exceeds the national average of 4/10. Multiple tributary creeks of the White River flow through Mars Hill, so a significant part of the neighborhood has potential for flooding. However, there are no houses in the actual White River flood plain, which sits between the landfill and the river.


Agents Specializing in this Area
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Brian Smith
Great Woods Realty LLC
(317) 854-4926
60 Total Sales
1 in Mars Hill
$195,000 Price
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Leyton Wellbaum
Highgarden Real Estate
(877) 621-5856
213 Total Sales
1 in Mars Hill
$193,000 Price
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Monique Bledsoe
True Property Management
(877) 850-5149
96 Total Sales
1 in Mars Hill
$189,900 Price
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Alison Fernandez
The Stewart Home Group
(888) 612-9688
107 Total Sales
2 in Mars Hill
$173K - $215K Price Range
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Nancy Warfield
Responds QuicklyF.C. Tucker Company
(463) 800-7595
362 Total Sales
3 in Mars Hill
$178K - $185K Price Range
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Leslie Luebcke
Pursuit Realty, LLC
(855) 841-5139
78 Total Sales
1 in Mars Hill
$163,500 Price
Schools
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Transit
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Mars Hill | US |
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Homicide | 6 | 4 |
Sexual Assault | 7 | 4 |
Assault with Weapon | 6 | 4 |
Robbery | 5 | 4 |
Burglary | 5 | 4 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
Larceny | 5 | 4 |
Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Mars Hill Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Mars Hill, Indianapolis sell after 38 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Mars Hill, Indianapolis over the last 12 months is $171,750, up 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Neighborhood Facts
Open Houses
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Wednesday, Jul 168am - 7pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Property Mix - Square Feet
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Education and Workforce
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Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
Minimal Transit
Transit 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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