The Near Westside is home to a wealth of assets, including 19 parks and recreational areas, 41 churches of various denominations, 14 licensed child-care programs, six public schools and a private Catholic high school, two community centers, the Westside Health Center, a senior apartment complex, the Center for Working Families, several banks, a new library branch, the West District Police Department, the Westside Community Development Corporation, Goodwill Industries, many newly established restaurants and businesses, and a wide offering of social service programs. In addition, the Near Westside is surrounded by major state and national attractions, such as the White River State Park with its museums and the Indianapolis Zoo along its eastern edge. To the west are the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis International Airport. IUPUI, a major urban university with its nationally recognized medical complex, has multiple campus locations throughout the area.

According to the 2000 Census, Near Westside is home to 14,517 residents living in five distinct neighborhoods – the Westside, We Care, Hawthorne, Haughville, and Stringtown. The Near Westside – defined by 21st Street on the north, Tibbs Avenue on the west, the White River on the east and a small wedge of homes between West Washington Street and the railroad tracks on the south – has a long been a racially diverse community, with Hispanic residents comprising the newest wave of immigrants.