Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Gresham, OR
🏆 Carmel leads 16 of 22 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
Gresham
Oregon
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
113,525 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $63,422 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Gresham
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Gresham, OR
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 35°F
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $63,422/yr
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Carmel
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$63,422
$132,859 vs $69,437/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
84% lower
66.0 vs 410.2 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Gresham
Median Home Value
$14k less
$411,700 vs $425,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Gresham, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $411,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,452⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $69,437 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 23.2% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 46.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 113,525 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 55.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 14.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Gresham's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carmel leads 16 of 22 categories. Carmel wins 16 and Gresham 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 Gresham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $411,700 median home), income ($132,859 vs $69,437), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Gresham, OR are about 1,865 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.