Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Hollywood, FL
🏆 Carmel leads 12 of 20 categories
Carmel
Indiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17
Population
99,453
Hollywood
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,958
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
152,764 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $70,901 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Hollywood
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Hollywood, FL
Pros
Homes cost $81k less ($345,300 vs $425,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 35°F
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $70,901/yr
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Carmel
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$70,901
$132,859 vs $61,958/yr
Carmel
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Hollywood
Median Home Value
$81k less
$345,300 vs $425,900
Hollywood
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Hollywood, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $345,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,463⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $61,958 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 31.7% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 88.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" ✓ Drier | 65.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 152,764 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 56.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 19.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Hollywood's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Carmel leads 12 of 20 categories. Carmel wins 12 and Hollywood wins 8. 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 Hollywood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $345,300 median home), income ($132,859 vs $61,958), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Hollywood, FL are about 1,023 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.