Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Carmel, IN
🏆 Carmel leads 18 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Carmel
Indiana
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Homes cost $62k less ($363,800 vs $425,900)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 84°F
Rent averages $94/mo less ($1,405 vs $1,499)
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $37,128/yr
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 2.6%)
Carmel, IN
Pros
93% less violent crime than Anchorage
Households earn $37,128 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Home Value
$62k less
$363,800 vs $425,900
Carmel
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$37,128
$132,859 vs $95,731/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
93% lower
66.0 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Carmel
Summer Heat
17.0°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Carmel, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $425,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,499⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 | $132,859 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 21.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 17 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 73.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% | 98.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Carmel Clay Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 20.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 99,453 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 40.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% | 74.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Carmel's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 18 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 5 and Carmel wins 18. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Anchorage to Carmel or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $425,900 median home), income ($95,731 vs $132,859), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Carmel, IN are about 2,981 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.