Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Chesapeake, VA
🏆 Carmel leads 16 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Chesapeake
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$92,703
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
81% less violent crime than Chesapeake
Households earn $40,156 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 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
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Homes cost $86k less ($339,500 vs $425,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 35°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $40,156/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 2.6%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Carmel
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$40,156
$132,859 vs $92,703/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
81% lower
66.0 vs 339.4 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.0% unemployment
Chesapeake
Median Home Value
$86k less
$339,500 vs $425,900
Chesapeake
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Chesapeake, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $339,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,446⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $92,703 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Chesapeake City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 54.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" ✓ Drier | 54.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 249,377 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 73.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Chesapeake's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 16 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 16 and Chesapeake 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 Chesapeake or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $339,500 median home), income ($132,859 vs $92,703), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Chesapeake, VA are about 580 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.