We all know the Circle City is No. 1 in our hearts — but a little external validation never hurts.

Indy and its local businesses scored 50+ accolades in 2024, as well as being named the No. 30 best city in the US in a survey by Clever. Let’s take a look back at some of Indy's top marks from an unforgettable year.

“The No. 1 Best Medium North American Airport" by J.D. Power — Our beloved IND took the top spot in this ranking for the third consecutive year, thanks to factors like low crowds, local identity, and speedy security lines. It also welcomed a record 10 million passengers over the course of the busy tourism year.
"The No. 1 Best Aerial View in the US" by Remitly — This study showed participantsaerial images of 96 popular destinations and tracked how long they looked at each location to determine a favorite. Too bad ChatGPT didn't agree.
"The No. 1 City in the US with the Most-Loved Independent Stores" by OnDeck — Yelp reviews of 17,411 independently-owned boutiques proved that Indy has the best indie shopping scene. The highest-rated shop in Indy was Silver in the City.
"The No. 4 Best US City for Dating" by TimeOut — Number of single people, divorce rates, and quality of life all indicated things are hot and steamy in Indy, no matter the weather. Psst... keep an eye on our newsletter over the next two weeks for plenty of ideas for Valentine's Day.
"The No. 10 Best City for the Latest Nights" by Lyft — This study found that we take a lotttttt of late-night rideshares. Indy's restaurants have caught on too, offering us plenty of midnight munchies meal options.
"The No. 25 Best City for Barbecue" by LawnStarter — We know our No. 1 ranked friends at KCtoday are probably shaking their heads, but it's true. From the Memphis-style barbecue bologna sandwich at His Place Eatery to the fried catfish at Pa & Ma's Backyard BBQ, Indy is a hotspot for barbecue food.
"The No. 28 City with the Lowest Cost of Living" by Niche — While the cost of living in Indy has steadily risen, it's still affordable compared to other metropolises. But if it doesn't suit your fancy, you can make a quick move to No. 1 ranked South Bend, No. 3 ranked Evansville, or No. 4 ranked Fort Wayne.