Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Fort Collins, 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
Fort Collins
Colorado
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $53,882 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Fort Collins
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $72k less ($425,900 vs $497,400)
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 35°F
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $53,882/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 2.6%)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$53,882
$132,859 vs $78,977/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
76% lower
66.0 vs 272.7 per 100k
Carmel
Median Home Value
$72k less
$425,900 vs $497,400
Carmel
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Fort Collins
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 96.6 |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $497,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $78,977 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 58.3% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 97.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 168,758 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 18 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 18 and Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $497,400 median home), income ($132,859 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Fort Collins, CO are about 996 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.