Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Cincinnati, OH
🏆 Carmel leads 14 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Cincinnati
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $83,668 more per year on average
92% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $234k less ($192,000 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $606/mo less ($893 vs $1,499)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 35°F
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $83,668/yr
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Median Income
$83,668
$132,859 vs $49,191/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
92% lower
66.0 vs 845.6 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$234k less
$192,000 vs $425,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Cincinnati, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $192,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $893 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $49,191 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 223⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Cincinnati Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 16.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 308,870 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Cincinnati's 94.1 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 14 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 14 and Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $192,000 median home), income ($132,859 vs $49,191), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Cincinnati, OH are about 104 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.