Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Huntsville, AL
🏆 Carmel leads 15 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Huntsville
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$67,874
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $64,985 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Huntsville
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (2.6%)
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
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Homes cost $190k less ($236,300 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $479/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,499)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $64,985/yr
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Median Income
$64,985
$132,859 vs $67,874/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
86% lower
66.0 vs 483.2 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.6% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 94.6 on the COL index
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$190k less
$236,300 vs $425,900
Huntsville
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Huntsville, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 94.8 |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $236,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $67,874 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 122⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 45.8% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Huntsville City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 2.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 215,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Huntsville's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 15 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 15 and Huntsville 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 Huntsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $236,300 median home), income ($132,859 vs $67,874), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Huntsville, AL are about 359 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.