Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Carmel, IN
🏆 Carmel leads 15 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
122,216 ✓ Larger
Carmel
Indiana
15
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.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $54,313/yr
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Carmel
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $54,313 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Ann Arbor
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (2.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Ann Arbor
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$54,313
$132,859 vs $78,546/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
78% lower
66.0 vs 302.5 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
2.6% vs 3.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Carmel, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $425,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,499⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 | $132,859 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 21.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 17 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 73.7% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% | 98.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | Carmel Clay Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 20.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 ✓ Larger | 99,453 |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 40.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 74.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Carmel's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 15 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 8 and Carmel wins 15. 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 Ann Arbor to Carmel or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $425,900 median home), income ($78,546 vs $132,859), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Carmel, IN are about 203 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.