Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Hampton, VA
🏆 Carmel leads 14 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Hampton
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65
Population
137,217 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $68,429 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than Hampton
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Hampton, VA
Pros
Homes cost $206k less ($219,800 vs $425,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $244/mo less ($1,255 vs $1,499)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 35°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $68,429/yr
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 2.6%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Carmel
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$68,429
$132,859 vs $64,430/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
73% lower
66.0 vs 247.6 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.5% unemployment
Hampton
Median Home Value
$206k less
$219,800 vs $425,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Hampton, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $219,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,255 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $64,430 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 94 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Hampton City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 137,217 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 55.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Hampton's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 14 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 14 and Hampton wins 9. 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 Hampton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $219,800 median home), income ($132,859 vs $64,430), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Hampton, VA are about 569 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.