Is Noblesville Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

You can’t go much further into the northeast suburbs of Indianapolis than Noblesville, Indiana.

It’s a city among the most desirable to live in and full of things to do for a wandering traveler.

The downtown is where charming meets artistic and the edge of the city comes complete with a one-of-a-kind county park and even a beach for sun-seekers in the summer.

If you’re visiting the historic downtown corridor, be sure to have your best selfie game because the county courthouse is going to make your Instagram feed.

The city calls this area “Hipstoric” to reflect the unique vibe in what would otherwise be any old charming downtown.

The history doesn’t end at Main Street.

At Forest Park, you could be among the first to ride the Nickle Plate Express train.

There are haunted history tours where you might just get a ghostly visit.

If you don’t visit the only covered bridge left in Hamilton County, did you even really go to Noblesville?

No matter what season, you can grab an inner tube and ride down something, be it a lazy river or a snow-packed sledding hill.

From the White River to the Urban Air Adventure Park, there’s always something exciting happening in Noblesville.

We do need to go through some warnings, including a 2022 report about the recreational waters of the state and some weather risks, so it’s not all noble in Noblesville.

Warnings & Dangers in Noblesville

OVERALL RISK: LOW

The overall risk is low here. This is not only a safe city, but it's surrounded by other safe cities. The northern side of the Indianapolis area is one of the nicer parts of the metro area. Several hotels sit along a major road in the city too, making travel around the region easy.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

There is no public transportation, so if you don't have a car you'll rely on taxis and rideshares. There is a trolley service, but it's generally for groups of 25 or more. There's a low risk, but you'll want to seriously think about getting a car with no easy or cheap way to get to Indy.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

There's a low risk here with just one pickpocket reported in 2020. The overall theft rate is one in 171 and the rate is a fraction of the national and state average.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

There's a medium risk because a lot of bad weather can happen here. Some thunderstorms turn severe and produce tornadoes, winter storms with snow and ice or both, flooding concerns along the White River, and water pollution concerns.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

There's a low risk in Noblesville with just nine robberies reported in 2020. Low risk doesn't mean no risk, so you should still use good safety measures to protect yourself, like not carrying around a large amount of money in your wallet.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

There's a low risk in Noblesville, as it's not a hard target for terrorism. Indianapolis might be, so there's a bigger risk if there was a major attack in the city. Noblesville did have a school shooting in 2018 that showed it's not immune to homegrown gun violence attacks.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

Aside from a contractor scam, there weren't really any major scams other than the garden variety ones found in any city. There is a low risk that a tourist will be a victim.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Women can visit here with low risk. There are a lot of safe areas with good lighting and safe parking lots, and outdoor areas with safer or more risky options depending on the preferences of the traveler. The sexual assault rate here is slightly lower than the national average, too.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The 2021 Consumer Confidence Annual Water Report shows all categories tested were compliant with state and federal laws. We do need to talk more about the water quality in the White River if your trip includes recreational activities there. That's coming up shortly.

Safest Places to Visit in Noblesville

You want to start in downtown historic Noblesville if you can.

A tour of the historic courthouse and the former jail is a must-see here.

There are plenty of photo ops here, so bring your camera.

There are unique stores and restaurants here too.

Hamilton Town Center is the shopping focal point of this community.

Here you’ll find more well-known national brands for shopping and dining.

Current and retired military members get a discount, so stop by the management office on your way in.

Several restaurants offer free food for children, so be sure to review the website before picking a spot for lunch or dinner.

Strawtown Koteewi Park is more than just a park.

It has the typical picnic and hiking areas, but you can also go through the Treetop Trails or try your hands at archery.

There’s a replica of a Native American Village and horseback rides available too.

The Taylor Center of Natural History is also located in this park.

In Forest Park, you’ll find many amenities, including the new Nickel Plate Train Tour.

A 1956 train takes you on a 45-minute ride with food and drink service available onboard.

There is also a wine tour in conjunction with Sugar Creek Winery which lasts 90 minutes.

Tickets are expected to sell out quickly, so book as soon as you have your travel dates finalized.

The White River has a variety of things to do, from fishing to tubing to boating.

There is a tour company that offers a variety of float trips lasting up to two days long.

You can also be your own tour guide at one of several entry points into the river.

Potter’s Bridge Park is centered around a covered bridge dating back to the 1870s.

66 acres of this park are great for wildlife viewing or a nice long walk.

This also connects to the White River Greenway, which leads you right back to downtown Noblesville.

Morse Park and Beach are on the northwest edge of the city, sitting at the edge of a giant reservoir lake.

The beach is open all summer long from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

The rest of the park, including the playground, picnic, and hiking areas, are open all year round.

Places to Avoid in Noblesville

The downtown and surrounding few blocks have the highest crime rates, according to the latest crime mapping data available.

It is common to have more crime in busy areas than in residential neighborhoods.

You should avoid going into the White River unless you’ve checked the water quality for the day.

The White River Alliance Partnership says nearly two million acres of farmland runoff dumps into this river and that can cause bacteria or algae growth.

You should review the water levels and contamination levels online before you go in the water.

For the best safety steps, avoid getting in the river after heavy rain or snow runoff.

This is due to a faster current than you might be able to handle or because of pollutants like storm runoff, sewage leaks, or crop chemicals in the water.

You should avoid Noblesville if you’re just looking for a suburban area of Indianapolis.

On a good day, it’s going to take you 45 minutes to drive to Indy from Noblesville.

There are closer communities that are also safe to stay in.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Noblesville

So... How Safe Is Noblesville Really?

Noblesville comes in at the #8 spot on the list of Indiana’s Safest Cities.

On the south, southwest, and west sides are the cities of Carmel, Fishers, and Westfield, all of which rank even safer than Noblesville.

Here’s how the crime risk breaks down according to 2020 FBI data:

• Violent Crime: 1 in 1,160 risk
• Robbery: 1 in 7,733 risk
• Theft: 1 in 171 risk

The city didn’t have any homicides in 2020 and hasn’t had more than four homicides total since 2010.

I touched on this earlier and you might read some articles about a school shooting here.

In 2018, a 13-year old student came into a science class with two handguns and shot another student and a teacher who wrestled the gun-wielding student to the ground.

Both the teacher and the student who were shot survived.

The shooter is serving time in a juvenile detention home.

As sad as this is, it’s just another reminder that no community is safe from the gun violence that plagues America or random acts of gun violence.

You should feel safe visiting Noblesville, but you should never let your guard down.

How Does Noblesville Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

Visas can take up to four months for the processing and interview, so start planning early. You'll need to show your Visa when you arrive at your destination airport. You won't need it to travel through the Indianapolis area.

Currency

The USD is the only currency accepted here. Most of the attractions here can be paid for in advance or with a credit card, so it's okay if you don't want to carry cash around with you.

Weather

You'll get all four seasons here with a special severe weather risk in spring when tornado season starts. You should plan to dress in layers because above-average warm or cooler temperatures are prone to happen. Winter will be cold, and Noblesville gets about two and a half feet of snow a year, which is less than the national average. It's still a good idea to bring sturdy waterproof hiking boots to enjoy all the outdoor areas.

Airports

The Indianapolis Airport is on the exact opposite side of town, which is 40 miles away. It's going to take about an hour to get there and longer in the rush hour traffic.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a great idea with all the weather risks and water quality concerns that could make you sick. You should know what your car insurance covers if you chose to get a rental car.

Noblesville Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Indiana - Safety by City