Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Chattanooga, TN
🏆 Carmel leads 13 of 22 categories
Carmel
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Chattanooga
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $75,156 more per year on average
92% less violent crime than Chattanooga
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 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
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $195k less ($230,500 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $433/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,499)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $75,156/yr
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.1% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Median Income
$75,156
$132,859 vs $57,703/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
92% lower
66.0 vs 823.7 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.1% unemployment
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$195k less
$230,500 vs $425,900
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Chattanooga, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $230,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,066 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $57,703 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 34.1% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Hamilton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" ✓ Drier | 55.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 181,288 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 53.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Chattanooga's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carmel leads 13 of 22 categories. Carmel wins 13 and Chattanooga wins 9. 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 Chattanooga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $230,500 median home), income ($132,859 vs $57,703), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Chattanooga, TN are about 342 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.