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Living in
Speedway.
About
Life in Speedway
Speedway is a compact, urban town of about 13,600 people just five miles west of downtown Indianapolis—small enough to feel like a genuine community, but connected enough that you're not isolated. Yes, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is here, and yes, that shapes the local economy alongside racing-related manufacturing (Dallara racecars, Allison Transmission, and various racing teams all operate locally), but day-to-day life revolves around affordability, reasonable job access, and a diverse, working-class feel that's genuinely unpretentious. Housing is one of Speedway's biggest selling points: median home values sit around $228,600 with median rent at $1,141 a month, which keeps the town accessible for people who might struggle in pricier Indianapolis neighborhoods, and the 3.7% unemployment rate suggests steady job availability, especially if you work in manufacturing, automotive, or are willing to commute into downtown Indianapolis (average commute is under 23 minutes).
Speedway at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.5%
Foreign-Born
24.4%
Broadband Internet
90.8%
of households
Population Growth
+2.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics24.4% foreign-born, most often from Haiti
Who lives in Speedway: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Speedway, the largest foreign-born group is from Haiti (22.0%), and 9.7% of residents speak French/Haitian at home.
Under 18
26.7%
of residents
65 and Older
13.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.5%
of households
Married Couples
38.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.29
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 7% above IN average
Rent, home values, and income in Speedway
In Speedway, rent runs 7% above the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,945
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
45.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1963
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $233,377 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IN
Unemployment in Speedway and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Marion County, which includes Speedway, is close to the IN average.
Unemployment rate
Speedway: Marion County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Marion County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Speedway is about 1% of Marion County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Speedway Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN metro area
Commute22 min avg
How Speedway residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Speedway, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
Medium hub5.2M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 41% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Speedway runs 41% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
195.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,951.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Speedway Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 20 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Marion County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Marion County, which includes Speedway, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 20 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $551,000 |
| 2024 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.3M |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.6M |
| 2022 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $68,000 |
| 2021 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.2M |
| 2020 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $113,000 |
| 2019 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.1M |
| 2018 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $23,200 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Marion County, county-wide
Speedway is about 1% of Marion County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality54 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Marion County, which includes Speedway, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
54
Good Days
146
per year
Moderate Days
214
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Marion County, county-wide
Speedway is about 1% of Marion County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate84°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Speedway has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.6"
Annual Snowfall
25.5"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
106
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
131
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 21°F | 2.59" |
| Feb | 41°F | 24°F | 2.07" |
| Mar | 52°F | 33°F | 3.28" |
| Apr | 64°F | 43°F | 4.08" |
| May | 74°F | 54°F | 4.32" |
| Jun | 82°F | 63°F | 5.06" |
| Jul | 85°F | 67°F | 4.29" |
| Aug | 84°F | 65°F | 3.24" |
| Sep | 78°F | 57°F | 2.57" |
| Oct | 66°F | 45°F | 3.25" |
| Nov | 52°F | 35°F | 3.25" |
| Dec | 41°F | 26°F | 2.67" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Speedway
Uninsured
6.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Speedway's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Assurance Health Psychiatric Hospital
Psychiatric · 1.7 mi away · Indianapolis
Neuropsychiatric Hospital of Indianapolis, Llc
Psychiatric · 2.8 mi away · Indianapolis
Ethan Crossing Addiction Campus of Indianapolis
Psychiatric · 3 mi away · Indianapolis
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Speedway
Speedway's student/teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 34.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
34.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Speedway (within 15 miles)
Indiana University-Indianapolis
4.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 13,830 students · in-state tuition $10,762 · 57% graduate · median earnings $58,990 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,317 students · in-state tuition $49,890 · 80% graduate · median earnings $83,535 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,005 students · in-state tuition $38,308 · 57% graduate · median earnings $58,791 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,266 students · in-state tuition $42,100 · 60% graduate · median earnings $64,806 (10 yrs after entry)
Chamberlain University-Indiana
11.3 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 144 students · in-state tuition $20,845 · 49% graduate · median earnings $96,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Speedway
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Speedway
Speedway Public Library
5633 West 25th Street, Speedway
Cities Near Speedway
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Speedway?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Speedway FAQ
Is Speedway, Indiana affordable?⌄
Speedway's median rent is $1,141/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $60,147/year. Median home value is $228,600.
Is Speedway, Indiana safe?⌄
Speedway's violent crime rate was 195 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1951 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Speedway, Indiana?⌄
Marion County, which includes Speedway, has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Speedway, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in Speedway is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,141/month and median household income is $60,147/year. The median home value is $228,600. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Speedway, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in Speedway is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from