Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Carmel, IN
🏆 Carmel leads 14 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Carmel
Indiana
14
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.
Austin, TX
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 35°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $46,303/yr
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 2.6%)
Carmel, IN
Pros
86% less violent crime than Austin
Households earn $46,303 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 84.4°F
Carmel
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$46,303
$132,859 vs $86,556/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
86% lower
66.0 vs 466.9 per 100k
Carmel
Median Home Value
$36k less
$425,900 vs $461,500
Carmel
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Carmel, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $425,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,499⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 | $132,859 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 21.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 17 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | A (120) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% | 73.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 98.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Carmel Clay Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 99,453 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 40.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 74.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Carmel's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 14 of 23 categories. Austin 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 Austin to Carmel or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $425,900 median home), income ($86,556 vs $132,859), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Carmel, IN are about 934 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.