Where are the best places to live near Columbus Indiana?

I am a 23 year old young adult who recently graduated from Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. I just got a job with Cummins in Columbus Indiana and must relocate in the next couple of weeks so that I can be closer to work.



Here are some of my priorities when choosing a place to live:



1) Near entertainment - I don't need downtown Chicago type entertainment, but at least a few fun nightlife locations where I might mingle with some folks more my age would be nice.

2) Near good shopping and restaurants.

3) Dog friendly - I have a Beagle puppy, so a pet park would be nice; or at least some grassy areas.

4) Safe and reasonably quiet neighborhood.

5) Newish built, or renovated properties - I don't want to be living in a 50 year old apartment complex that shows its age.





I live with one other person and a small dog that I previously mentioned. My budget is somewhere between $700-$900/month (so rentals). I wouldn't mind commuting to Columbus if the place I was living was really worth the trip.



So any ideas??Where are the best places to live near Columbus Indiana?
Congratulations on your new job. Columbus has a ton of active and exciting things to offer. I hope you will check out www.columbustalent.com and www.columbusareachamber.com for some more info about the community before you decide to live somewhere else. Its a small community, but once you get connected, you will be glad you didn't choose to commute.



Check out Riverside apartments and Westwood Pines, they are newer apartments. Scotty's Brewhouse just announced that they are moving to Columbus, and that is the first of several good news announcements.



Also check out www.columbusyp.org- great way to make connections and learn more.