Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 Carmel leads 18 of 22 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
Fullerton
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Homes cost $365k less ($425,900 vs $791,000)
86% less violent crime than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (2.6%)
Households earn $33,580 more per year on average
Rent averages $490/mo less ($1,499 vs $1,989)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Median income trails Carmel by $33,580/yr
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$33,580
$132,859 vs $99,279/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
86% lower
66.0 vs 455.3 per 100k
Carmel
Median Home Value
$365k less
$425,900 vs $791,000
Carmel
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $791,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,989⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $99,279 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 44.0% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 89.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 142,280 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carmel leads 18 of 22 categories. Carmel wins 18 and Fullerton wins 4. 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 Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $791,000 median home), income ($132,859 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Fullerton, CA are about 1,795 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.