Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Elgin, IL
🏆 Carmel leads 17 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Elgin
Illinois
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
114,190 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
75% less violent crime than Elgin
Households earn $46,861 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $183k less ($242,500 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $309/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,499)
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $46,861/yr
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 2.6%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Carmel
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$46,861
$132,859 vs $85,998/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
75% lower
66.0 vs 266.7 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.0% unemployment
Elgin
Median Home Value
$183k less
$242,500 vs $425,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Elgin, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $242,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,190 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $85,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 52 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 81.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | SD U-46 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer | 30.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 39.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" ✓ Less | 32.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 114,190 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 71.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Elgin's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 17 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 17 and Elgin wins 6. 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 Elgin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $242,500 median home), income ($132,859 vs $85,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Elgin, IL are about 183 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.