Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Elizabeth, NJ
🏆 Carmel leads 16 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Elizabeth
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $72,920 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $68k less ($358,400 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $109/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,499)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 35°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $72,920/yr
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Carmel
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$72,920
$132,859 vs $59,939/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
84% lower
66.0 vs 408.7 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$68k less
$358,400 vs $425,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Elizabeth, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $59,939 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 4.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 74.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Elizabeth Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" ✓ Less | 31.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 135,665 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Elizabeth's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 16 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 16 and Elizabeth wins 7. 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 Elizabeth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $358,400 median home), income ($132,859 vs $59,939), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Elizabeth, NJ are about 631 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.