Is Fishers Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Fishers, Indiana, is now a city you wouldn’t have recognized 30 years ago.

Since 1990, Fishers has grown 10 times larger with a population now nearing 80,000.

The growth is expected to be 140,000 people by 2040.

It’s bordered by the White River to the west and the Geist Reservoir on the east, making water activities one of the top draws to this part of the Indianapolis area.

You can’t come to Fishers without visiting Conner Prairie.

If “Little House on the Prairie” had an amusement park, this would be it.

Technically, it’s called an outdoor museum, but it’s so much more than that.

The downtown park of Fishers is called the Nickel Plate District and it has an artsy vibe with performances, restaurants, and boutique shopping centered around an amphitheater popular for popular or once-popular artists.

This is a live/work/play area, so there’s always something happening during any season.

I’m always amazed at how cities have re-invented the experience of a local park, and Fishers has literally gone above and beyond at Flat Fork Creek Park.

Whether you want to walk the wooden boardwalk or climb an elaborate treehouse, there’s a lot to do here.

It’s also home to one of the steepest sledding hills in the county.

Fishers is a wonderful suburban getaway that doesn’t feel cookie cutter.

It’s just 30 minutes from downtown Indianapolis, for those who want a bigger city experience during their visit.

Warnings & Dangers in Fishers

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's a low risk here. The crime rates are almost unbelievably low for such a growing city. (Don't worry, I double checked) The police department is transparent with its efforts and summed up 2021 in an annual report, so we're not forced to use outdated 2020 data from the FBI.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

One of the downsides of Fishers is that there is no connection here to the IndyGo transit system. There's an intricate transportation plan in development, but as of mid-2022, there's no answer as to when public transportation will be available. You can always call a cab or rideshare, although having a car is going to be preferable.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

I'd love to know Fishers' secret for keeping theft rates at almost half the national average. There's a one in 142 risks of being a victim of theft. There's a low risk it will happen to you, but there are plenty of places where your wallet or purse could be eyed by a thief, so still protect your belongings when you go out.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

There's a risk of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes that starts in the spring and carries into the winter until snow storms take over. Having the river and lakes means there's a risk of flooding too. Due to all the potential, there's a medium risk, but unless there's a weather watch or warning, you don't have to worry. You should be prepared for the seasonal-appropriate severe weather.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

There's a really low risk here. Only nine robberies were reported in 2021 and that's seven times lower than the national average.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

Since it's part of the greater Indianapolis metro area, we have to give this a medium risk. There isn't a chance that Fishers would be a direct target, but would definitely feel a ripple effect of a physical or cyber attack.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

You can bookmark the "List of Common Scams" on the Fishers Police Department website so you can check the risks just before your visit. Most of the scams are very resident-focused and aren't anything different than scams happening nationwide. There's a low risk of a tourist being the focus of a scam.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Women are going to love visiting Fishers for its low crime rates and so many things to do. If you lose your female friend, there's a good chance she's at the Ikea store in Fishers. There's a low risk, but you should always practice good personal safety steps to keep it that way.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

Tap water meets or exceeds all requirements here and there's low risk when using it. We will talk a little bit later about the water quality in the reservoir, lakes, and river.

Safest Places to Visit in Fishers

Conner Prairie is an outdoor museum that is more like an amusement park combined with a zoo.

It’s affordable too, with tickets topping out at $20.

There are some experiences, like taking a ride in an 1859 hot air balloon, that will cost more.

You can explore a prairie village, interact with rare animals, go on a Civil War journey, and tour one of Indiana’s oldest homes.

That’s nowhere near the complete list.

There are events and attractions open here every season.

Saxony Beach is a summer favorite where tourists are welcome (for a small fee) and you can kayak, sunbathe, hike, or fish.

This is not to be confused with Geist Reservoir, where a public access area is under construction and might not be open until 2040.

The Nonie Werbe Krauss Nature Preserve is along the White River.

There’s a two-mile trail here along with wildflower fields and it’s a popular spot for birding.

If you want to fish in Fishers, the popular parks are:

• Cheeney Creek Natural Area
• Heritage Park at White River
• Flat Fork Creek Park

The “This is Fishers” website shows a map of all the public art throughout the city, which is quite a large area.

One place it will lead to is the Nickel Plate District.

Here you can find more than 150 businesses to browse through and the amphitheater is located here as well.

If you need basics from Target, you’ve got one of those here too.

Many people who come to Indianapolis are race car fans, and Fishers has just the place for you.

K1 Speed is an indoor go-kart racing facility with plenty of historic memorabilia on display too.

Places to Avoid in Fishers

The area west of I-69 and Highway 37 has higher crime rates when you look at the crime distribution maps.

That said, it’s still not a dangerous part of town by any means.

You can safely travel around Fishers without ever feeling like you’re in a bad neighborhood.

In any city that grows as fast as Fishers has, there are going to be traffic issues and road rage.

There’s always going to be some kind of construction happening too.

Especially when you’re visiting, give yourself plenty of time to get where you’re going.

Try to avoid I-69 during the evening rush hour if you can, as traffic can back up several miles on the interstate just to exit into Fishers.

There’s a little bit of a feud between the northside of Indianapolis neighborhoods.

The northern suburbs are the wealthiest part of the metro area, and some people would go as far as to call these people “snobs.”

Carmel, Fishers, and Noblesville all seem to be in an unofficial battle for which one is best.

If you think Indianapolis is going to be full of people wearing NASCAR jerseys, the northern suburbs will prove you wrong.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Fishers

So... How Safe Is Fishers Really?

What’s really impressive about the low crime rates in Fishers is that the rates are so low as the population keeps growing.

It’s not uncommon for small towns with few amenities to have low crime rates, but for a city of 80,000 people to have such low numbers?

It’s downright impressive.

Here are the risks in Fishers, according to the 2021 Annual Police Report from the Fishers Police Department:

• Violent Crime: 1 in 1,142 risk
• Robbery: 1 in 8,886 risk
• Theft: 1 in 142 risk
• Car Theft: 1 in 1,454 risk

Fishers has been voted one of the best and safest cities in Indiana by several major publications.

There’s no hidden underbelly being covered up by the city, police, or locals.

The average income in Fishers is $108,000 and the poverty level is near non-existent.

You really can’t go wrong staying in any of the northern suburbs of Indianapolis, but the one downside is that Fishers doesn’t have public transportation to get you into Indy.

How Does Fishers Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

You'll need a visa to get through Customs at the airport, but other than that, you can pack it away and use your passport as legal identification. Plan ahead, though. It can take up to four months to get your visa issued.

Currency

You can only use the U.S. Dollar here. Many of the attractions here have purchases that can be made online, but be sure you don't do that when using public WiFi since it opens you up to the risk of fraud.

Weather

You want to dress in plenty of warm layers in the winter. There are a lot of things to do outdoors in the winter here, especially after a good snow, and you don't want a flimsy jacket and cheap gloves because those won't cut it. Summers are going to be hot and humid, and mosquitos will be everywhere. Bring bug spray and sunscreen. There's a great product I use when visiting places where I know I'm going to sweat a lot. It's called Liquid IV, and it helps restore the electrolytes you lose when you sweat. You just add it to a bottle of water.

Airports

It's going to take just under an hour to get to Indianapolis International Airport. That's the biggest and closest airport option.

Travel Insurance

You should consider travel insurance to protect your flight in case of a weather cancellation and see what kind of protection it offers against accidents or vehicle break-ins.

Fishers Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Indiana - Safety by City