Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Chino, CA
🏆 Carmel leads 19 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453 ✓ Larger
Chino
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,385
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
91,008
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
78% less violent crime than Chino
Homes cost $173k less ($425,900 vs $599,200)
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $33,474 more per year on average
Rent averages $502/mo less ($1,499 vs $2,001)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (2.6%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Chino, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $599,200
Median income trails Carmel by $33,474/yr
Higher rents — median is $2,001/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Carmel
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$33,474
$132,859 vs $99,385/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
78% lower
66.0 vs 299.5 per 100k
Carmel
Median Home Value
$173k less
$425,900 vs $599,200
Carmel
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Chino
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.7°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Chino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $599,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,001⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $99,385 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 34.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 13.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 28.1% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Chino Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 93.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 ✓ Larger | 91,008 |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 63.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 12.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Chino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 19 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 19 and Chino wins 4. 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 Chino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $599,200 median home), income ($132,859 vs $99,385), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Chino, CA are about 1,778 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.