Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Evansville, IN
🏆 Evansville leads 12 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
122,216 ✓ Larger
Evansville
Indiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
75% less violent crime than Evansville
Households earn $28,693 more per year on average
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Evansville
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $295k less ($121,100 vs $416,500)
Rent averages $555/mo less ($917 vs $1,472)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Ann Arbor
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 32°F
Cons
Median income trails Ann Arbor by $28,693/yr
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Median Income
$28,693
$78,546 vs $49,853/yr
Ann Arbor
Violent Crime
75% lower
302.5 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Evansville
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$295k less
$121,100 vs $416,500
Evansville
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Evansville, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $121,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 ✓ Higher | $49,853 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 317⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 22.4% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 89.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 10.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 ✓ Larger | 116,906 |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 21.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Evansville's 89.8 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Evansville leads 12 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 11 and Evansville wins 12. 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 Evansville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $121,100 median home), income ($78,546 vs $49,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Evansville, IN are about 358 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.