Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellevue, WA
VS
Indianapolis, IN
🏆 Bellevue leads 13 of 23 categories
Bellevue
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,551 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
150,606
Indianapolis
Indiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellevue, WA
Pros
Households earn $90,441 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Indianapolis
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,139,500
Higher rents — median is $2,422/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Indianapolis
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $955k less ($184,600 vs $1,139,500)
Rent averages $1376/mo less ($1,046 vs $2,422)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellevue
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bellevue by $90,441/yr
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellevue
Median Income
$90,441
$149,551 vs $59,110/yr
Bellevue
Violent Crime
84% lower
138.6 vs 877.9 per 100k
Bellevue
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$955k less
$184,600 vs $1,139,500
Indianapolis
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 83.7°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellevue, WA | Indianapolis, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,139,500⚠ High | $184,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,422⚠ High | $1,046 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,551 ✓ Higher | $59,110 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 29.9% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 159⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 33.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellevue School District | Indianapolis Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 34.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 83.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 41.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 25.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,606 | 882,006 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellevue's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Indianapolis's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellevue leads 13 of 23 categories. Bellevue wins 13 and Indianapolis wins 10. 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 Bellevue to Indianapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,139,500 vs $184,600 median home), income ($149,551 vs $59,110), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellevue, WA and Indianapolis, IN are about 1,860 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.