Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Denton, TX
🏆 Carmel leads 14 of 23 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
Denton
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54
Population
142,262 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $60,938 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Denton
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Denton
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Denton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($296,100 vs $425,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $235/mo less ($1,264 vs $1,499)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 35°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $60,938/yr
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 2.6%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Carmel
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$60,938
$132,859 vs $71,921/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
68% lower
66.0 vs 204.2 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.8% unemployment
Denton
Median Home Value
$130k less
$296,100 vs $425,900
Denton
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Denton, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $296,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,264 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $71,921 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 54 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 40.0% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | DENTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 55.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 38.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 142,262 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 30.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Denton's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 14 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 14 and Denton 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 Denton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $296,100 median home), income ($132,859 vs $71,921), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Denton, TX are about 767 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.