Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Denver, CO
🏆 Carmel leads 18 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Denver
Colorado
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
93% less violent crime than Denver
Households earn $47,006 more per year on average
Homes cost $115k less ($425,900 vs $540,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Denver, CO
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 35°F
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $47,006/yr
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$47,006
$132,859 vs $85,853/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
93% lower
66.0 vs 993.0 per 100k
Carmel
Median Home Value
$115k less
$425,900 vs $540,400
Carmel
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.7% unemployment
Denver
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Denver, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $540,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $85,853 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 20.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 247⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 54.2% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 15.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 710,800 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 18.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Denver's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 18 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 18 and Denver wins 5. 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 Denver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $540,400 median home), income ($132,859 vs $85,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Denver, CO are about 992 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.