What are the schools like in Carmel, IN?

Carmel is served primarily by Carmel Clay Schools. The district operates 11 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.6:1.

What is the median household income in Carmel?

The median household income in Carmel, IN is $132,859 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.6%.

What is the weather like in Carmel, IN?

Carmel has an average high temperature of 34.5°F in January and 84.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 44.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 20.3 inches.

Carmel, IN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Carmel, IN affordable or expensive?

Carmel's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Carmel is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $425,900 and the median rent is $1,499 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Carmel, IN?

Carmel has a violent crime rate of 66.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 812.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Carmel, IN a Good Place to Live?

Carmel is a mid-sized city of 99,453 in Indiana, with a median household income of $132,859 and a 2.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Carmel stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Carmel is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Carmel city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 94.6

Carmel's overall cost of living index is 94.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Carmel costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Carmel, IN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$425,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,499	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$132,859	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Carmel's violent crime rate is 66.0 per 100,000 residents — 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

66.0 /100k

Property Crime

812.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Carmel is served primarily by Carmel Clay Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Carmel, IN	National Avg
School District	Carmel Clay Schools	—
Elementary Schools	11	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	73.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Carmel sees average highs of 34.5°F in January and 84.4°F in July, with 44.2 inches of annual precipitation and 20.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Carmel, IN
Average High — January	34.5°F
Average High — July	84.4°F
Annual Precipitation	44.2"
Annual Snowfall	20.3"

Demographics

Metric	Carmel, IN	National Avg
Population	99,453	—
Median Age	40.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	78.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.4%	18.9%
Asian	11.3%	6.3%
Under 18	24.8%	22.2%
65 and over	14.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Williams Creek, IN 5 mi Westfield, IN 5 mi Meridian Hills, IN 5 mi North Crows Nest, IN 7 mi Crows Nest, IN 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Carmel

Carmel, IN is covered by 4 ZIP codes:

46032 46033 46280 46290

Carmel vs Other Cities

Carmel, IN vs Williams Creek, IN Carmel, IN vs Westfield, IN Carmel, IN vs Meridian Hills, IN Carmel, IN vs North Crows Nest, IN Carmel, IN vs Crows Nest, IN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Carmel, IN affordable or expensive?

Carmel's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Carmel roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $425,900 and median rent is $1,499/month.

What is the crime rate in Carmel, IN?

Carmel's violent crime rate is 66.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 812.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Carmel?

Public schools in Carmel are operated by Carmel Clay Schools. The district has 11 elementary, 3 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1. 73.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Carmel, IN a good place to live?

Carmel, IN has a population of 99,453, a median household income of $132,859, and an unemployment rate of 2.6%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Carmel?

Carmel averages 34.5°F in January and 84.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.2 inches with about 20.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Carmel?

Carmel, IN is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 46032, 46033, 46280, 46290.

What is the population of Carmel?

The population of Carmel, Indiana is 99,453 with a median age of 40.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Carmel?

Key numbers for living in Carmel: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $425,900, median household income $132,859, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carmel side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.