A 122-home new construction 55+ community in Hancock County — the metro area's lowest county income tax rate at 1.0%. Home prices $400K–$600K+. 30 minutes northeast of downtown Indianapolis with a quieter suburban feel than the Hamilton County corridor.
Hancock County's 1.0% county income tax rate is the lowest in the Indianapolis metro — 0.1% below Hamilton County (1.1%), 0.2% below Johnson County (1.2%), 0.5% below Hendricks County (1.5%), and 1.02% below Marion County (2.02%). The effective property tax rate (~0.85%) is also the lowest among the five counties where 55+ communities exist. On $60,000 in taxable retirement income, Hancock County saves you $60/year vs. Hamilton County, or $612/year vs. Marion County. On property tax at a $500,000 home, you save approximately $750/year vs. Marion County. Small individually, meaningful when combined over decades.
McCordsville is a small town in Hancock County that has grown rapidly as Indianapolis's eastern suburbs expanded. It sits at the junction of I-70 and Mount Comfort Road — which gives it solid interstate access while remaining distinctly suburban in character. If you're comparing to Fishers or Carmel, McCordsville is quieter, less developed, and has fewer walkable commercial amenities immediately adjacent. That's either a drawback or a feature depending on what you're looking for.
Gatherings at Aurora is part of the larger Aurora development in McCordsville — a planned community that's been growing through multiple phases. The 55+ component at 122 homes is smaller than most Del Webb communities in the metro, which means a tighter-knit community feel but also less social infrastructure and fewer activities per week than a 500–1,000-home operation with a full-time Activities Director.
| Cost Category | Monthly Estimate | Annual Total |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgage P&I ($392K at 6.75%, 30yr — 20% down) | $2,544 | $30,528 |
| Property Tax ($490K × ~60% assessed × 0.85%) ÷ 12 | ~$209 | ~$2,499 |
| HOA (community amenities and maintenance) | ~$275–$325 | ~$3,300–$3,900 |
| Homeowners Insurance | ~$150 | ~$1,800 |
| Utilities | ~$175 | ~$2,100 |
| Total All-In Monthly Housing Cost | ~$3,353–$3,403 | ~$40,227–$40,827 |
Verify HOA fees with the community management or developer. Hancock County property taxes are consistently among the lowest in the metro.