Living in Perry Township & Southport

Perry Township is right next door to Franklin Township, where I live, and it borders Greenwood to the south, so I drive through here all the time. I’m at the Target here a lot, and the easy interstate access makes it simple to get anywhere in the city. Here’s what I tell friends who ask me what it’s really like.

Perry Township is on the south side of Indianapolis in Marion County, between downtown and Greenwood. It has about 122,000 residents (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 estimate). It’s known for established neighborhoods of brick ranches, its own school district (Perry Township Schools), and quick access to I-65 and I-465. Downtown is about 15 minutes away in light traffic. It’s a strong option for first-time buyers, buyers who want a lot of house for the money, and anyone who wants to be close to both downtown and Greenwood.

Why People Love Perry Township

Schools: Perry Township Schools
Perry Township has its own public school district, which serves nearly 16,000 students. It runs 11 elementary schools, two 6th grade academies, two middle schools and two high schools: Perry Meridian High School and Southport High School. Which schools a home feeds into depends on the address, so I always confirm it with the district’s boundary lookup before you buy.
Parks and outdoor space
Perry Park on Stop 11 Road has Indy Parks’ only indoor ice rink, plus a seasonal pool, courts, a playground and shelters. Gray Park at Southport Road and Sherman Drive has dirt trails along Little Buck Creek, and the Little Buck Creek Trail runs along Southport Road between Mann Road and Bluff Road.
Easy access to the rest of Indy
I-65, I-465, Madison Avenue, Meridian Street (S.R. 135), S.R. 37 and U.S. 31 all run through or along the township. From the middle of the township, downtown is about 7 miles and the airport about 15 miles.
Places I go
Brozinni Pizzeria, near Emerson Avenue and County Line Road, is a regular stop for me for New York-style pizza. Metro Diner on U.S. 31 South is another spot I like, and there are plenty of other restaurants and shops along U.S. 31, Madison Avenue and Southport Road.
Small communities inside the township
Perry Township includes the city of Southport, the town of Homecroft (bungalows mostly built from 1930 to 1950), University Heights around the University of Indianapolis, Edgewood, and Glenns Valley on the west side.

Real Estate in Perry Township

In October 2026, the median sale price in Perry Township was $230,000, down 2% from a year earlier. 98 homes closed that month, and the median home went under contract in 28 days (Indiana REALTORS® Housing Hub, MLS data).

Home styles: mostly established brick ranches, plus two-stories, 1930s–1950s bungalows in Homecroft and some newer subdivisions. The median Perry Township home was built in 1978 (U.S. Census Bureau).
Ownership: about 63% of homes are owner-occupied (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024), so there’s a good mix of owner-occupied streets and rental demand for investors.
Market pace: buyers are being choosier than a year ago. In October 2026, sellers got about 95% of their list price on average (Indiana REALTORS® Housing Hub). Clean, well-priced homes still sell steadily.

Selling in Perry Township? Many buyers here compare your home to the one down the street that just sold, so price and condition matter. I’ll show you what’s selling near you and what buyers expect before you list. What’s my Perry Township home worth? →

Neighborhoods and Communities in Perry Township

Southport: a small city of its own inside the township. More on Southport below.
Homecroft: a small town of 1930s–1950s bungalows, much of it a National Register historic district.
University Heights: the neighborhood around the University of Indianapolis.
Glenns Valley: the west side of the township, near Bluff Road and Morgantown Road.
All Perry Township homes for sale →

Living in Southport

Southport is a small city of about 2,100 people (2020 Census) inside Perry Township. When Indianapolis and Marion County merged under Unigov, Southport chose to stay an “excluded” city, so it still has its own mayor, city council and police department. Homes are served by Perry Township Schools. The city itself is in the 46227 ZIP code, and the post office also accepts “Southport” as the mailing city for 46217, so you’ll see Southport addresses in both ZIPs.

A real small town inside the city
Southport covers about two-thirds of a square mile. It was founded in 1832 and got its name as the first stop, or “port,” for travelers heading south from Indianapolis. It’s still mostly single-family homes.
Parks and local spots
Southport Park on Derbyshire Road sits just south of Little Buck Creek and has a shelter house, community room, playground, ball diamond and basketball court. Long’s Bakery has its southside location on Southport Road, and the Southport branch of the Indianapolis Public Library is on East Stop 11 Road.
Homes and prices
About 83% of Southport households own their home (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020–2024), and the median Southport home was built in 1963. In my experience, most Southport homes sell for around $230,000 to $250,000. Redfin’s median for the three months ending October 2026 was about $255,000, with homes typically going under contract in about 17 days. With only a handful of sales each month, I compare Southport sales with nearby Perry Township sales before pricing a home.
Property taxes
Your tax rate depends on the taxing district, so a Southport address can have a different rate than a nearby Indianapolis address. I check the actual tax bill for any home you’re considering.

Perry Township FAQ

Is Perry Township part of Indianapolis?

Yes. Perry Township is one of the nine townships in Marion County, and most homes have Indianapolis addresses. A few communities inside the township, like the city of Southport and the town of Homecroft, have their own local governments.

What school district serves Perry Township?

Perry Township Schools. The district has 11 elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools, Perry Meridian High School and Southport High School. School assignments depend on the address, so I confirm them for every home.

Is Southport the same as Perry Township?

Not exactly. Southport is a small city of about 2,100 people located inside Perry Township. Southport residents are still in Perry Township and Perry Township Schools, but the city has its own mayor, city council and police department.

What ZIP code is Southport?

The city of Southport is in 46227. The post office also accepts “Southport” as the mailing city for 46227 and 46217, so a Southport mailing address can be in either ZIP code, and it isn't always inside the city limits.

How much do homes cost in Southport?

In my experience, most Southport homes sell for around $230,000 to $250,000. Redfin's median for the three months ending October 2026 was about $255,000, but Southport has only a handful of sales each month, so I compare them with nearby Perry Township sales before pricing a home.

How much do homes cost in Perry Township?

In October 2026, the median sale price in Perry Township was $230,000, according to the Indiana REALTORS Housing Hub. Prices vary a lot by neighborhood, size and condition, so I pull recent sales on your street before you buy or sell.

How long does it take to get downtown from Perry Township?

From the middle of the township, downtown Indianapolis is about 7 miles away, or roughly 15 minutes in light traffic. I-65, Madison Avenue and Meridian Street are the main routes north.

How do property taxes work here?

Indiana caps property taxes for owner-occupied homes with the homestead deduction at 1% of assessed value. Rental properties are capped at 2%, so investors should budget roughly double what an owner-occupant pays.

Thinking About Moving to Perry Township or Southport?

Whether you’re buying, selling or just comparing areas, I’d love to help you find your spot in Perry Township or Southport. Next door, see my Franklin Township guide and Greenwood guide, or all the areas I serve.

Call or text me at 317-629-0070.