By TOM FARRIS
T.L. Farris and Associates

MUNCIE — American college towns are becoming appealing places to live – for all ages, from retirees to young people. They are looking for the cultural events, quality of life, sports and recreational activities, community engagement opportunities, job opportunities and entrepreneurial spirit found in college towns. 

The realtor.com data team ranked more than 300 college towns by median home price to determine the top 10 least expensive and top ten most expensive college towns.  Muncie, home of Ball State University and Ivy Tech Community College leads the nation in affordability with a median home price of $77,900.  The college town criteria specified areas where student residents were greater than 5,000 and made up more than 20 percent of the community’s total population.

With a population of 70,033, Muncie has many programs and projects underway to enhance the quality of place in this multi-college community. The largest of Muncie’s many city parks is Prairie Creek Lake Park, southeast of Muncie, containing 1275 acres of water and 750 acres of land. This popular recreation area is perfect for sailing, boating, fishing, swimming and camping. The Muncie-based Cardinal Greenway runs 62 miles from Marion through Muncie to Richmond. Muncie also has a three-mile trail along the White River, utilizing the public access area. The river is a destination for fly-fishing fans, canoeing and kayaking enthusiasts.

The downtown area is vibrant with many infrastructure projects underway, including a new hotel adjacent to the community’s large Horizon Convention Center and across from a senior housing center. A growing number of residents are living in the downtown. The region’s largest employers are IU Health/Ball Memorial Hospital , which has around 3,000 employees, and Ball State University with 2,800 employees.

“This Most Affordable College Town ranking provides additional evidence that Muncie is an attractive place for economic development investment. Housing affordability is a factor in any company’s decision to locate or expand in a community, and decision makers want to know that all employees, from the

CEO to the hourly worker, can afford quality housing in the community in which the company invests,” said Jay Julian, President/CEO & Chief Economic Development Officer, Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Alliance. “When housing is affordable, it provides more resources for recreation, philanthropic giving and nonessential purchases, thus providing additional growth opportunities for the local business and non-profit communities,” added Julian.

 To view the full article, go to realtor.com.