Muncie was first settled in the 1790s as an agricultural trading post for its surrounding farming communities. Later, the Indiana gas boom of the 1880s ushered in an era of rapid economic development, with major employers like the Ball Corporation moving to Muncie to build glass factories, iron and steel mills and auto manufacturing facilities. In 1918, Ball State University, or BSU, was established and today it’s the city’s largest employer as well as the area's center for arts and culture. IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital is Muncie's other major employer, providing jobs for many of this city's 65,000 residents. Despite being anchored by a four-year university, only 32% of Muncie’s population holds a college degree, which is less than the national average. Although its population has declined in recent years, Muncie also has a resilient group of artists and intellectuals committed to their city's future: both its economic development and its people. “The best thing about living in Muncie can truly be found in the genuinely caring folks who call it home,” says Cheryl Crowder, the events director for the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership. “It’s easy to get involved and actually make a difference in the community. It's very welcoming!”
East Central residents enjoy easy access to several parts of Muncie.
Ball State University is Muncie’s biggest employer.
1/2
Ball State University
Ball State University is Muncie’s biggest employer, with nearly 3,400 staff members for just over 20,000 students. According to U.S. News & World Report, BSU's most popular majors include studies in the liberal arts and sciences and psychology, and the university has seven academic colleges to choose from. BSU is also home to three of the city’s largest performance venues – Emens Auditorium, Sursa Performance Hall and the University Theatre – plus the David Owsley Museum of Art, which houses over 11,000 unique works. The school competes in Division I NCAA athletics and it's Pride of Mid-America Marching Band, BSU’s largest student organization, performs at home football and basketball games.
Muncie's Emens Auditorium is a college-community auditorium on the Ball State campus.
The Ball State Cardinals play in the MAC conference.
1/2
Low housing costs and low crime rates in Muncie’s Historic Districts
About half of Muncie’s residents are homeowners, and the other half is comprised of renters, primarily students. Much of Muncie’s residential architecture was constructed between 1860 and 1930 and features a variety of styles typical of that era. Here, potential buyers will find everything from Italianate to Queen Anne and American Foursquare home designs. The median home value is around $88,000, which is less than a third of the national average, and the median rent price hovers around $840, which is about $400 less than the national average. A 2021 study by Insurify referenced Muncie as the most affordable housing market in the U.S., stating that Muncie — like many cities across the U.S. — experienced housing price drops during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, but expects a resurgence in the near future. The city has 11 registered National Historic Districts, and in 2018, over half of its neighborhoods had active associations that met regularly. Many of these associations are active with a mission to get into the hands of individual homeowners rather than investors. “Unfortunately, predatory landlords pay cash for houses to turn single-occupancy houses into rentals,” says Jennifer Erickson, the secretary for the neighborhood association of Riverside-Normal City, a heavily renter-occupied BSU-adjacent neighborhood. “We try to get people to move in before that happens.” An added benefit to living in Delaware County, there are far fewer incidents of violent crime here than in Indiana at large. In 2023, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office reported 20 violent crimes per 100,000 people, while Indiana at large had 113 violent crimes per 100,000 people.
A row of single family homes line the streets in the Thomas Park - Avondale neighborhood.
Large, stately homes will catch your eye as you walk around Muncie's East Central.
1/2
Minnetrista Museum & Gardens, downtown gallery walks and a free summer music series
Muncie has a thriving arts scene anchored by the Minnetrista Museum & Gardens, a 40-acre museum founded by the Ball family. It features several exhibitions including the Bob Ross Experience, where visitors can explore the actual television studio where the hit TV series, The Joy of Painting, was filmed. Muncie is also the home of the Garfield comic strip, which was created by Jim Davis, a BSU graduate and longtime Muncie resident. The iconic comic is honored by Muncie’s Garfield Trail, a collection of 4-foot-tall Garfield statues located around the city. Muncie also has several artists’ guilds and independent galleries, several of which are featured in downtown Muncie’s monthly First Thursday gallery walks, where local artists set up displays and demonstrations. In the summer, the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership hosts the free outdoor Muncie Three Trails Music Series at Canan Commons in collaboration with MuncieArts.
The Entrance at the Minnetrista Museum and Gardens is sure to catch your eye.
The Minnetrista Museum and Gardnes near McKinley is a beautiful area throughout the year.
1/2
Muncie Community Schools and Ivy Tech Community College
Muncie Community Schools receives a C-plus rating from Niche and serves approximately 5,000 students across six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. In 2018, the Indiana General Assembly granted Ball State University oversight of Muncie Community Schools and since then, the district has stabilized its previously declining enrollment, developed new academic programs and collected upwards of $5 million in pledges and grants. The district also partners with local businesses, nonprofits and community organizations to provide professional learning opportunities for students. Ball State University is also home to the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities, a 300-student residential high school that ranks as the No. 1 public high school in Indiana according to Niche. Muncie also has its own Ivy Tech Community College campus, with 39 programs including software development, professional communication and informatics.
Muncie's Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities is the states best.
Ivy Tech Community College has many locations in Muncie.
1/2
The Village’s development plan, food access and shopping
Muncie lacks a centrally located grocery store and because of this, in spring 2018, 64% of Muncie residents lived in food deserts. “There used to be a grocery store downtown – The Downtown Farm Stand – but now they’re not open every day,” Erickson says. “People go to ALDI, Walmart and Pay Less, but you have to get on a bus to go to those places.” The BSU Board of Trustees has recently approved a development plan to revitalize The Village, the commercial district surrounding the university, with a plan that includes a new performing arts center, luxury hotel and dining and retail options. “We want places in this area that serve students, faculty and staff,” Erickson says. “We want a thriving, interesting, artistic neighborhood. People say, ‘Keep Muncie weird.’ We’ll see what happens.” In the interim, residents can shop at local businesses like the Ivy Rose Boutique, Murray’s Jewelers and Kat’s Crystals & Curiosities in downtown Muncie. The Muncie Mall is also home to over 30 retailers including Buyer’s Market, Books-A-Million and Bath & Body Works.
The Muncie Mall is also home to over 30 retailers including Books-A-Million.
Just down the road from the South Central neighborhood is a ALDI grocery store for residents.
1/2
Recreation along the White River Greenway
Muncie is known for having three trails: the White River Greenway, the Cardinal Greenway and the Muncie Arts & Culture Trail. The White River flows through the city, and residents can explore its banks via the nearly 6-mile White River Greenway, a paved multiuse path that passes through several public parks. The White River Greenway connects to the 62-mile Cardinal Greenway, Indiana’s longest rail trail. The Muncie Arts & Culture Trail links several districts in the city: downtown, Minnetrista, BSU and Heekin Park. Muncie’s four major parks are Tuhey Park, Westside Park, McCulloch Park and Heekin Park. “Tuhey Park has the biggest public pool in Muncie,” Erickson says. Westside Park has a baseball diamond, basketball courts, a playground and open green space. McCulloch Park features a disc golf course, and Heekin Park has both a World War II and a Vietnam War memorial. Muncie experiences four distinct seasons, with an average high temperature in the 60s and low temperature in the 40s. The city gets an average of 22 inches of snowfall per year.
A jogger runs along the Cardinal Greenway at the Rotary Park in Muncie, IN.
Cyclists enjoy the trails of Westside Park.
1/2
Walking, biking and the Muncie Indiana Transit System
Muncie is a primarily car-dependent city without an infrastructure for walking and biking. “I bike, but it doesn’t feel super safe,” Erickson says. “People tend to drive fast and not look for bikes, but the university and the city are supporting a multi-pronged effort to get bike lanes.” Despite this, “The public transportation is awesome,” Erickson adds. The Muncie Indiana Transit System, or MITS, public buses have 14 routes across the city, connecting residents to major destinations like BSU, Ivy Tech Community College, IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital and downtown. When traveling out of town, residents can choose to fly out of Fort Wayne International Airport, 64 miles north, or Indianapolis International Airport, 74 miles southwest.
Jon Kindred is a real estate agent who believes that each client deserves a tailored approach. By actively listening to your ideas and plans, he crafts a personalized strategy that helps ensure your goals are met. With a commitment to clear and consistent communication, Jon keeps you informed every step of the way, turning the complex process of buying or selling a home into a seamless experience.
Outside of real estate, Jon loves spending quality time with his beautiful wife Ashlee. They enjoy going on spontaneous adventures, volunteering on mission trips, and engaging with their local church & community. An outdoor enthusiast, Jon enjoys mountain biking, hiking local trails, and hitting the gym to stay active. With over 70 house plants, we also think he might be obsessed with buying plants… Fun fact: because Jon also loves coffee so much, he always makes it a game to either include a cup of coffee in each house or mention coffee in the listing description.
Jon’s passion for real estate stems from his desire to serve others and his love for solving problems. Whether you’re buying or selling, he’s ready to guide you on each step of your journey. Feel free to email at Jon.Kindred@TalkToTucker.com or call Jon directly at phone 765-465-9409.
Feel free to also follow along on social media to see home tours, behind the scenes, and random adventures. Just click one of the links below.
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.
