Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Broken Arrow, OK
VS
Carmel, IN
🏆 Carmel leads 12 of 23 categories
Broken Arrow
Oklahoma
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,547
Violent Crime Index
59
Population
114,237 ✓ Larger
Carmel
Indiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
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.
Broken Arrow, OK
Pros
Homes cost $215k less ($210,800 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $316/mo less ($1,183 vs $1,499)
Violent crime is well below the national average (223.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $50,312/yr
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 2.6%)
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $50,312 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Broken Arrow
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (2.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Broken Arrow
Key Differences at a Glance
Broken Arrow
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Broken Arrow
Median Home Value
$215k less
$210,800 vs $425,900
Broken Arrow
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 84.4°F
Carmel
Median Income
$50,312
$132,859 vs $82,547/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
70% lower
66.0 vs 223.1 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Broken Arrow, OK | Carmel, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper | 94.6 |
| Median Home Value | $210,800 ✓ Lower | $425,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,183 ✓ Lower | $1,499⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,547 | $132,859 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 21.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 | 17 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% | 73.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% | 98.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROKEN ARROW | Carmel Clay Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.7" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,237 ✓ Larger | 99,453 |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 40.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% | 74.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 14.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Broken Arrow's cost of living index is 89.5 vs Carmel's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Broken Arrow is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 12 of 23 categories. Broken Arrow wins 11 and Carmel 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 Broken Arrow to Carmel or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,800 vs $425,900 median home), income ($82,547 vs $132,859), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Broken Arrow, OK and Carmel, IN are about 590 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.