Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Carmel, IN
🏆 Carmel leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Carmel
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859
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.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $4,528 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Carmel
Carmel, IN
Pros
Homes cost $407k less ($425,900 vs $833,300)
74% less violent crime than Arlington
Rent averages $728/mo less ($1,499 vs $2,227)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $4,528/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$4,528
$137,387 vs $132,859/yr
Arlington
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 84.4°F
Carmel
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Violent Crime
74% lower
66.0 vs 254.4 per 100k
Carmel
Median Home Value
$407k less
$425,900 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Carmel, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $425,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,499⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $132,859 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 21.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 17 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | A (120) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 73.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 98.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Carmel Clay Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 44.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 99,453 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 40.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 74.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Carmel's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 9 and Carmel wins 14. 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 Arlington to Carmel or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $425,900 median home), income ($137,387 vs $132,859), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Carmel, IN are about 489 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.