Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Carmel, IN
🏆 Carmel leads 17 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
97,980
Carmel
Indiana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 35°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Median income trails Carmel by $37,289/yr
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Carmel
Carmel, IN
Pros
61% less violent crime than Boca Raton
Rent averages $671/mo less ($1,499 vs $2,170)
Homes cost $171k less ($425,900 vs $597,100)
Households earn $37,289 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 84.4°F
Carmel
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$37,289
$132,859 vs $95,570/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
61% lower
66.0 vs 171.0 per 100k
Carmel
Median Home Value
$171k less
$425,900 vs $597,100
Carmel
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Carmel, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $425,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,499⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 | $132,859 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% | 21.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 17 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% | 73.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% | 98.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Carmel Clay Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 44.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 99,453 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 40.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% | 74.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 14.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Carmel's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 17 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 6 and Carmel wins 17. 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 Boca Raton to Carmel or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $425,900 median home), income ($95,570 vs $132,859), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Carmel, IN are about 1,001 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.