Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Jacksonville, FL
🏆 Carmel leads 16 of 23 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
Jacksonville
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $68,721 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Jacksonville
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 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
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $183k less ($243,000 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $218/mo less ($1,281 vs $1,499)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 35°F
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $68,721/yr
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$68,721
$132,859 vs $64,138/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
89% lower
66.0 vs 623.8 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.8% unemployment
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$183k less
$243,000 vs $425,900
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Jacksonville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 99.2 |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $243,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,281 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $64,138 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 11.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 164⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | DUVAL |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 950,203 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 57.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Jacksonville's 99.2 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 16 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 16 and Jacksonville wins 7. 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 Jacksonville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $243,000 median home), income ($132,859 vs $64,138), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Jacksonville, FL are about 712 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.