If you have been watching the east side of Indianapolis and wondering where the next wave of growth is heading, McCordsville deserves a closer look. This is the kind of town that can feel easy to overlook until the numbers, new projects, and road plans start telling a much bigger story. If you are thinking about buying, selling, or relocating, understanding what is happening here can help you make a smarter move. Let’s dive in.
Why McCordsville Is Getting Attention
McCordsville sits in northwest Hancock County, right next to Lawrence in Marion County and Fishers in Hamilton County. That location matters because it puts you within reach of major job centers, shopping areas, and regional routes while still being part of a town with room to grow.
According to the town’s comprehensive plan, downtown Indianapolis is less than 20 miles away, and the area has access to I-69, I-70, I-465, and US 36. In practical terms, that means McCordsville is positioned to attract buyers who want suburban housing options with reasonable regional access.
The population growth is hard to ignore. Census QuickFacts shows McCordsville grew from 8,503 residents in 2020 to an estimated 11,744 by July 1, 2024. That is about a 38% jump in a short period, which is one of the clearest signs that more people are seeing value here.
What Makes a Town a Hotspot?
A real estate hotspot usually has more than one thing working in its favor. You typically see population growth, a strong housing pipeline, commercial investment, better infrastructure, and a clearer identity forming over time.
McCordsville checks many of those boxes. The town’s amended Comprehensive Plan, adopted June 10, 2025, lays out a long-term vision that includes an active town center, local businesses, quality housing, healthcare access, and a more complete street network. That matters because it shows growth here is not random. It is being planned and shaped.
That said, McCordsville still fits better under the label of an emerging hotspot than a fully mature suburb. Some projects are moving quickly, while others are not as far along, and traffic improvements are still catching up with development.
Housing Growth Is a Big Signal
If you want the clearest sign of where a market is heading, look at housing. As of March 13, 2025, McCordsville had 9,487 existing and approved residential units on the books, according to the town plan.
About 70% of those units are single-family homes. The rest include apartments, townhomes, assisted living and memory care, and mixed-use buildings. That variety is important because growing communities usually need more than one housing type to support daily life, local services, and future walkability.
The pace of development is also notable. More than three-quarters of McCordsville’s housing has been built since 2000, and the town says current and approved projects could support about 24,700 residents at buildout. In other words, there is still meaningful room for growth.
Large Communities Are Still Coming
Several major neighborhoods are part of that pipeline. The town plan highlights McCord Square with 670 units, Jacobi Farms with 650, Villages at Brookside with 579, and Gateway Crossing with 565.
On top of that, the town reported 13 active residential projects approved to pull permits and 7 more zoned projects that were not yet permit-ready in the first quarter of 2025. That level of activity suggests the growth story is still unfolding, not winding down.
For buyers, that can mean more choices over time. For sellers, it means understanding how your home fits into both the resale market and the growing new-construction conversation becomes more important.
McCord Square Could Change the Feel of Town
One of the strongest arguments for McCordsville as an eastside hotspot is McCord Square. Official town and READI materials describe it as a mixed-use, walkable town center meant to create a true downtown identity.
That is a big deal because many fast-growing suburbs add rooftops long before they develop a real center. McCord Square is designed to help change that pattern by blending residential space with a more pedestrian-scale environment.
The 2025 plan says the PUD for McCord Square was adopted in 2022, and the initial phase allows up to 670 residential units. Future phases could add as much as 80 more acres, which tells you the town is thinking beyond a single project and toward a broader identity.
Commercial Growth Is Following Rooftops
Housing tends to attract services, and McCordsville is starting to see that happen. IU Health opened a primary care location on Main Street in September 2024 with primary care, cardiovascular care, and OB/GYN services under one roof.
That kind of investment often signals confidence in long-term local demand. It also adds practical convenience for current and future residents who want more day-to-day services close to home.
The local development pipeline is still active too. The June 17, 2025 Plan Commission agenda included a Starbucks development plan, a 326-lot Arbor Homes plat, Patch Development’s 38-acre Gateway at McCordsville proposal, a Fischer Homes PUD and 182-lot plat, an MI Homes amendment, and a town community center proposal.
Taken together, those projects point to a town moving beyond pure subdivision growth. McCordsville appears to be adding the pieces that help a suburb feel more complete over time.
More Than a Bedroom Community
McCordsville still functions largely as a commuter suburb. The town plan says there were 1,166 jobs in town in 2022, but only 131 people both lived and worked there, while 4,966 residents worked outside town.
That does not make the area less appealing. It simply means many buyers are likely choosing McCordsville for housing, space, and location rather than for a local job base. Census QuickFacts lists the mean commute time at 31.9 minutes, which gives you a realistic benchmark if commute planning is high on your list.
Over time, mixed-use projects, healthcare investment, and employment areas may help balance that pattern. For now, McCordsville’s value proposition still leans heavily on its location and growth potential.
Roads and Infrastructure Matter Here
In a fast-growing town, road planning is not a side note. It is central to whether growth feels manageable.
McCordsville’s plan identifies US 36 and CR 600W, also known as Mt. Comfort Road, as major corridors through town, with nearby access to I-69, I-70, and I-465. Several transportation projects are planned or funded, including lane additions and a multi-use path at Mt. Comfort Road and W Broadway, a signal at Broadway and CR 750N by 2028, a roundabout at CR 1000N and CR 400W in 2026, a roundabout at CR 600W and CR 600N in 2025, and widening of CR 600W north toward McCord Square.
These projects support the idea that local officials know growth needs infrastructure behind it. The town plan also notes the ongoing CSX railroad grade-separation issue at Broadway, which is a reminder that not every traffic challenge has been solved.
What Buyers Should Take From This
If you are considering McCordsville, the main appeal is timing. You are looking at a town that already has momentum but is still early enough in its evolution that major pieces are actively being built.
That can appeal to several types of buyers:
- Buyers who want newer housing options
- Move-up buyers looking for more space
- Relocating buyers who want regional access to Fishers, Lawrence, and Indianapolis
- Buyers who value future amenities and a more defined town center
It is also smart to go in with clear expectations. McCordsville is growing fast, but some projects are still in planning or early development, and road improvements will take time to fully catch up.
What Sellers Should Watch
If you own a home in McCordsville, growth can create opportunity, but it also creates competition. New construction, mixed-use development, and incoming inventory can influence how buyers compare resale homes.
That means presentation, pricing, and neighborhood positioning matter. A seller who understands how to frame their home against both existing listings and nearby new-build alternatives is in a stronger spot.
It also helps to know that McCordsville’s story is broader than just square footage. Buyers may be responding to access, future town-center plans, healthcare additions, and the overall sense that the town is still on the rise.
So, Is McCordsville the Next Eastside Hotspot?
Based on the town’s current growth pattern, the answer looks like yes, but with nuance. McCordsville has several of the strongest hotspot signals at once: rapid population growth, a deep housing pipeline, a planned walkable town center, expanding healthcare services, and major road improvements tied to future development.
At the same time, it is still in the process of becoming what it wants to be. Not every project is equally advanced, and infrastructure remains a major part of the story.
That is exactly why McCordsville is worth watching right now. It does not read like a finished suburb. It reads like a place still taking shape, which is often where some of the most interesting opportunities begin.
If you are weighing a move in McCordsville or anywhere around the northeast and eastside Indy suburbs, Lee Skiles can help you sort through the neighborhoods, timing, and market data so you can move forward with confidence.
FAQs
Is McCordsville growing quickly?
- Yes. Census QuickFacts shows the population increased from 8,503 in 2020 to an estimated 11,744 in 2024, which is about 38% growth.
What kind of housing is in McCordsville?
- McCordsville’s housing is mostly single-family homes, but the town plan also includes apartments, townhomes, assisted living, memory care, and mixed-use residential projects.
What is McCord Square in McCordsville?
- McCord Square is a planned mixed-use, walkable town center designed to create a stronger downtown identity for McCordsville.
Is McCordsville mainly a commuter town?
- Yes. The town plan says many residents work outside town, and Census QuickFacts lists the mean commute time at 31.9 minutes.
Are there still new developments planned in McCordsville?
- Yes. The town reports active residential projects, additional zoned projects, and ongoing commercial and civic proposals in the development pipeline.
