Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Charlotte, NC
🏆 Carmel leads 14 of 21 categories
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
Charlotte
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$74,070
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $58,789 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Charlotte
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
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
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($312,800 vs $425,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 35°F
Rent averages $100/mo less ($1,399 vs $1,499)
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $58,789/yr
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$58,789
$132,859 vs $74,070/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
91% lower
66.0 vs 733.2 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.7% unemployment
Charlotte
Median Home Value
$113k less
$312,800 vs $425,900
Charlotte
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Charlotte, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.0 |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $312,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,399⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $74,070 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% | 21.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 186⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 176⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 46.6% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 89.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 52.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 43.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 3.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 875,045 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Charlotte's 97.0 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Carmel leads 14 of 21 categories. Carmel wins 14 and Charlotte wins 7. 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 Carmel to Charlotte or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $312,800 median home), income ($132,859 vs $74,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Charlotte, NC are about 439 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.