Community & Government Awards

Digital Counties Survey

For the sixteenth year, Hamilton County is proud to be the recipient of a Digital County Award.

The Digital Counties Survey examines how county governments are evolving in their use of information technology (IT) to deliver services to their citizens.

Counties are grouped into four population categories:
  • 500,000 or more
  • 250,000-499,999
  • 150,000-249,999
  • and less than 150,000
Hamilton County Government has long recognized the value of technology as a business tool and an economic way to enhance services. Over time, we have been judiciously implementing e-government solutions.

This is not a quick or easy task; but we are committed to serving you in the most effective manner possible. Please rest assured that we are moving in the right direction, for the right reasons.

Digital Counties winner 2018

Year Category Award
2019 250,000-499,999 7th place
2018 250,000-499,999 7th place
2017 250,000-499,999 8th place
2016 Did not enter
2015 250,000-499,999 7th place
2014 250,000-499,999 3rd place
2013 250,000-499,999 6th place
2012 250,000-499,999 8th place
2011 250,000-499,999 10th place
2010 250,000-499,999 10th place
2009 250,000-499,999 3rd place
2008 250,000-499,999 7th place
2007 150,000-249,999 4th place
2006 150,000-249,999 3rd place
2005 150,000-249,999 2nd place
2004 150,000-249,999 5th place
2003 150,000-249,999 6th place

Award Winning Schools

Over the years several schools in our county have been recognized as BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS. Read more...

Niche - 2018 Best Places to Live and 2018 Best Counties to Live.

Congratulations to Carmel, Fishers, and to Hamilton County!

Carmel has been recognized as the Best Place to Live in America, for the second year in a row.! And not to be left out, Fishers ranked 7th! 

Also, Hamilton County ranked 2nd as Best County to Live in.

Niche website

Money Magazine - 2017 Best Places to Live in America

Congratulations Fishers and Carmel!
 
Fishers has been ranked 1st place in Money’s survey for best small cities. Described as "a booming city with good schools, low cost of living, and an entrepreneurial buzz", it is a great place to live.

Carmel has been ranked 16th; with a strong economy, low unemployment, abundant outdoor options, and an active main street.

Money Magazine’s Article

Movoto Blog - America' Safest Suburbs 2015

Congratulations Carmel and Fishers!

Carmel and Fishers have been ranked 1st and 2nd place respectively, across the Country. Read more...

Movoto Blog - Best 10 Places to live in Indiana 2015

Congratulations Carmel, Fishers, Zionsville, Noblesville, and Westfield!

Four of the top 6 locations are right here in Hamilton County, and another is nearby.

1. City of Carmel
2. Town of Fishers
3. Town of Zionsville (a close neighbor)
4. City of Noblesville
6. City of Westfield


Read more...

County Health Rankings 2010 through 2020

The County Health Rankings project is a collaborative effort involving the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Rated Indiana as healthiest place to live!
The results help to demonstrate that where we live, learn, work, and play influences our health and longevity. Counties received summary rankings in two categories; Health Factors and Health Outcomes. For Indiana, Hamilton County has ranked first in both categories for several years.

CNN Money - 2012 Best Places to Live

Congratulations Carmel and Fishers!

Carmel has been ranked 1st place in Money's survey for best small cities. Qualities listed include low unemployment, excellent schools, recreational opportunities, performing arts, and a variety of housing.

Fishers has been ranked 12th; with reasonably priced homes, a great school system, 451 acres of parks, and many community events.
2009 Outstanding Performance Award
Hamilton County received the 2009 Outstanding Performance Award from NACo in recognition of outstanding utilization of the NACo Prescription Discount Card Program.
National Association of Counties Logo
The prescription discount card program was introduced to assist residents in saving on their out-of-pocket costs for medications.
Forbes - 2008 Best Place to Raise a Family
Did you know there are over 3,000 Counties in the U.S.? There are, and Forbes' survey for the 'Best Place to Raise a Family' puts us in first place.
Americas best place to raise a family!
They rated ten qualities including cost of living, graduation rate, standardized scores, home price, property tax rate as a percentage of median home price, percentage of homes occupied by owner, per-capita income, air quality, crime rate and commute time.

"Located just north of Indianapolis, Hamilton County tops our list with impressive scores in nine of our 10 categories." ... "Hamilton offers eight quaint communities, a terrific school system, a short commute and low crime. The average home price of $200,000 is a steal compared with Marin County's $901,900 [California]." *

Yes, we knew we had strong communities, great schools, varied and rich lifestyles, low crime, and affordable housing.  These are some of the reasons we choose Hamilton County as our home.  And this national recognition is something we can all be proud of; because it takes all of us to make it happen.

* America's Best Places to Raise a Family, by Zack O'Malley Greenburg, Forbes.com, June 30, 2008
2005 Government-to-Citizen County Category Honorable Mention
The DGAA program recognizes outstanding agency and department web sites and applications that enhance information interactions, transactions and/or services.
DGAA Logo
Hamilton County was awarded an honorable mention for it's Online Food Facility Reports.  We needed to make these records more accessible and easier to maintain.  County staff converted the inspection process to be entirely paperless and published the reports online.

Inspection Reports can also be accessed through our online GIS (Geographic Information System).  Restaurants and Food Facilities are depicted on the maps with a 'spoon and fork' symbol, so users can visually search a geographic location.  When the user double clicks the symbol, the inspection summaries for that facility (and links to any reports) are displayed.