A growing yet historical community minutes from Louisville
Officially established along the northern banks of the Ohio River in 1813 by three brothers from New York, New Albany is a historic yet vibrantly growing corner of Indiana that's located just minutes from Louisville, Kentucky. Surrounding an eclectic downtown where residents can be found visiting boutique shops and exploring diverse dining options, New Albany has garnered recent attention for its unique combination of a trendy, fun lifestyle with an affordable housing market.
“It’s an exciting time for us- we've seen tremendous growth driven by new job opportunities, housing developments and a variety of quality-of-life enhancements made by the city,” says John Launius, Vice President and Director of Economic Development for New Albany. While New Albany's population has stayed relatively stable at just under 40,000 people since 1990, the city continues to grow and attract leading employers like Indiana University Southeast, Baptist Health Floyd and industrial services like Nyx New Albany.
New Albany's population has stayed relatively stable at just under 40,000 people since 1990.
The Falls of the Ohio park has a statue dedicated to famed explorers Lewis and Clark.
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Walk to downtown's trendy shopping and dining
Though outer portions of New Albany have a quiet, suburban feel, residents can always head to the center of town to walk around, meet up with some friends or make some quality purchases. "New Albany's downtown is going through a revival. It's really developing an artistic, yet family-friendly scene," says Heather Robinson, a local Realtor who grew up in New Albany and has sold homes throughout Indiana and Kentucky since 2013.
Boutique-style shops, connoisseurs-level restaurants and other eateries have all cropped up in Main Street's historic, Latinate buildings. Residents can head to Agave & Rye for festive flavors and a selection of mix-and-match tacos, or take their business over to the Exchange Pub & Kitchen, which is known for its industrial atmosphere and farm-to-table dining. The High Dive is a speakeasy-style bar that offers a creative drink menu in a swanky, vintage-feeling cellar. For groceries, Seeds and Greens Natural Market and Deli is a local health and natural goods store that also serves up tasty options like quinoa veggie bowls.
Market Street serves as a central lifeline in New Albany.
Restaurants and other eateries have all cropped up in Main Street's historic, Latinate buildings like 812 Pizza.
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Historic Floyd County homes at affordable price points
New Albany's storied history, which includes being a key stop along the Underground Railroad, can still be seen in several of the city's registered historic districts and its charming Victorian architecture. New Albany's varied housing landscape has everything from suburban-style cottages and traditional homes built in recent decades to vintage Craftsman and bungalow-style homes. Large, vintage estates that feature ornate facades, colorful frescoes and marble fireplaces from the 1800s can also be found in Mansion Row.
Despite the quality construction and appealing architecture of New Albany's homes, the city boasts consistently low pricing, with the median sales price rising to $238,500 in recent years. "Especially for people working in Louisville, the affordability is a big factor. Buyers often choose the area so they can raise their families in spacious homes that have nice, big yards," Robinson says. Prices range from $120,000 for smaller suburban homes in areas like Blackiston Mill to $1 million for Victorian properties in the Cedar Bough Place Historic District.
Many of the homes in New Albany resemble Victorian architecture.
New Albany has garnered recent attention for its unique combination of a trendy, fun lifestyle with an affordable housing market.
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Top-rated Indiana schools
New Albany Floyd County Schools earns an A rating from Niche and is rated as the second-best school district in the Louisville area. The district serves over 11,000 students with 14 different schools. "Floyd Central High School was once thought of as a small school servicing just the local farming community, but now it's one of the largest public high schools in the state," Robinson says.
Indiana University Southeast and Purdue Polytechnic New Albany are both located in the city. Indiana University Southeast is recognized for its undergraduate programs in nursing, business and education, while Purdue Polytechnic focuses on professions like electrical and mechanical engineering.
Nathaniel Scribner Middle School is an above average, public school located in New Albany, IN.
Floyd Central High School is a highly rated, public school located in Floyd Knobs, IN.
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New Albany celebrations and history on the Underground Railroad
With a convenient location right across the Ohio from downtown Louisville, residents can easily spend time exploring the cultural tapestry of Kentucky's largest metropolis, or opt for local attractions like J&B Magic Shop and Theater and MESA, A Live Dining Show. "When looking for something fun to do, New Albany really does feel like the best of both worlds," says Robinson.
The city’s history to the Underground Railroad is celebrated at Second Baptist Church. Known as Town Clock Church, the steeple once stood as a beacon hope for those seeking freedom.
New Albany’s Harvest Homecoming takes over Main Street every fall. The event has carnival rides, arts and crafts booths and live performances on the city's floating concert venue, RiverStage.
The Underground Railroad Gardens showcase the amazing history of the area.
The city’s history to the Underground Railroad is celebrated at Second Baptist Church.
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Residents have 17 parks to explore in New Albany
New Albany Parks and Recreation operates 17 parks, lacing the city with a network of local playgrounds, golf courses and natural areas. Riverfront Park is on the banks of the Ohio and offers a skate park, basketball court and biking trail. New Albany Riverfront Amphitheater hosts public concerts and family events throughout the year. Loop Island Wetlands and River Run Family Waterpark are also fun places to get outside, while Griffin Recreation Center has an indoor basketball court for when it gets cold in winter.
New Albany experiences all four seasons, but winters can get cold, with an average of 17 inches of snowfall per year. FEMA requires flood insurance for some homes near the Ohio River and its tributary creeks, but New Albany's Flood Control Department maintains 3.5 miles of flood wall to help guard against it.
Campbell-Woodland Nature Trails has beautiful tree-lined pathways in New Albany.
The Underground Railroad Gardens have statues, murals, and artwork that show the history.
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Getting around Southern Indy
Interstates 64 and 265 make it easy to reach any of southern Indiana's small towns and rural areas or commute to downtown Louisville just 5 miles across the Sherman Minton Bridge. For those not driving, the Transit Authority of River City (TARC) runs several routes through the city, including Route 71 with service from downtown Louisville to Indiana University Southeast. Louisville International Airport is just 13 miles south along Interstate 65. The closest hospital is Norton Clark Hospital, about 5 miles east in Jeffersonville.
Important to know
According to FBI crime data, New Albany's rates for violent crimes are lower than the national average despite steadily increasing since 2015. Property crime rates are higher than the national average but have decreased since 2015.
In 2025, the New Albany Police Department plans to further lower crime by supporting the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force and the covert robbery teams. These specialty units are meant to prevent crime by targeting repeat violent offenders.
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.
