Living in Irvington, Indianapolis
I love Irvington. I live just down the road, and I used to live in the nearby Little Flower neighborhood, so I’ve spent a lot of time here. Here’s what I tell friends who ask me what it’s really like.
Irvington is a historic neighborhood on the east side of Indianapolis, roughly between 10th Street, Arlington Avenue, Brookville Road and Emerson Avenue. It was founded in 1870 as a planned suburb with winding streets, and it’s home to the largest National Register historic district in Marion County. It’s known for older homes with character, its Washington Street business district and the Historic Irvington Halloween Festival. Downtown is about 12 minutes away. It’s a great community overall, and buyers who want an older home, mature trees and a close-knit neighborhood tend to love it here.
Why People Love Irvington
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Historic homes and streets
Irvington was laid out in 1870 to copy the winding streets of Glendale, Ohio, one of the country’s first planned suburbs. The Irvington Historic District covers 545 acres and was listed on the National Register in 1987, and the city named much of the neighborhood a local historic district in 2006. -
Schools
Most of Irvington is served by Indianapolis Public Schools. Irvington Community Schools, a tuition-free public charter network with elementary, middle and high schools, is also in the neighborhood. I always confirm school options for a specific address before you buy. -
Parks and trails
Ellenberger Park is a great park, and it hosts the Irvington Farmers Market on the second Sunday of each month, June through October. The Pennsy Trail connects to Ellenberger Park by a wide sidewalk along Ritter Avenue, and Pleasant Run Parkway and Pleasant Run Golf Course are close by. -
Washington Street
Washington Street, the old National Road (U.S. 40), is Irvington’s main business district. Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza is my go-to for pizza, Smash’d Burger Bar makes a great burger, and there’s a Starbucks for a quick coffee. -
Halloween is huge here
The Historic Irvington Halloween Festival, which dates to 1927, is one of the oldest and largest street fairs in Indianapolis, and the whole neighborhood gets into it. -
A college-town history
Butler University’s campus was in Irvington from 1875 to 1928. One of its buildings, the Bona Thompson Memorial Library, still stands, and the neighborhood had its own art movement, the Irvington Group.
Real Estate in Irvington
In October 2026, the median sale price in ZIP 46219, which includes Irvington, was $203,700 across 38 sales, and homes took a median of 39 days to go under contract (Indiana REALTORS® Housing Hub, MLS data). 46219 covers a much larger area than Irvington itself, so I pull sales street by street when I price a home.
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Home styles: most homes here are older bungalows, many from the 1910s–1920s additions like Pleasanton and Irvington Terrace. You’ll also find historic Second Empire and Italianate houses from the 1870s and Tudor Revival cottages from the 1920s and 1930s.
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Historic district rules: much of Irvington is a local historic district, so exterior changes may need approval from the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission. I’ll help you check before you buy if you’re planning a project.
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Market pace: sellers in 46219 received about 93% of their list price on average in October 2026 (Indiana REALTORS® Housing Hub). Updated homes with original character draw the most attention.
Selling in Irvington? Buyers here pay for character and care, so condition and presentation matter. I’ll show you what’s selling on your street before you list. What’s my Irvington home worth? →
Historic Areas in Irvington
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Irvington Historic District: the original core, listed in 1987.
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Pleasanton-in-Irvington Historic District: listed in 2010.
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Irvington Terrace Historic District: listed in 2011.
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North Irvington Gardens Historic District: listed in 2008.
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Emerson Avenue Addition Historic District: listed in 2013.
Irvington FAQ
Where is Irvington in Indianapolis?
Irvington is on the east side of Indianapolis, roughly between 10th Street, Arlington Avenue, Brookville Road and Emerson Avenue. Washington Street runs through the middle of it.
Is Irvington a historic district?
Yes. The Irvington Historic District covers 545 acres and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. It is the largest such district in Marion County, and much of the neighborhood is also a local city historic district.
Can I renovate a house in Irvington?
Yes, but much of Irvington is a local historic district, so exterior changes may need approval from the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission. I help buyers check the rules before they make an offer.
What schools serve Irvington?
Most of Irvington is served by Indianapolis Public Schools, and Irvington Community Schools runs tuition-free public charter schools in the neighborhood. School options depend on the address, so I confirm them for every home.
How much do homes cost in Irvington?
In October 2026, the median sale price in ZIP 46219, which includes Irvington, was $203,700, according to the Indiana REALTORS Housing Hub. That ZIP covers a much larger area than Irvington, so I look at sales street by street.
How far is Irvington from downtown Indianapolis?
Irvington is about six miles east of downtown Indianapolis, or roughly 12 minutes in light traffic.
Thinking About Moving to Irvington?
Whether you’re buying, selling or just love old houses, I’d love to help you find your spot in Irvington. Also see my Beech Grove guide and Franklin Township guide, or all the areas I serve.
Call or text me at 317-629-0070.