Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Kenosha, WI
🏆 Carmel leads 17 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Kenosha
Wisconsin
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,963
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
99,493 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $67,896 more per year on average
77% less violent crime than Kenosha
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Kenosha
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Kenosha, WI
Pros
Homes cost $232k less ($194,400 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $420/mo less ($1,079 vs $1,499)
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $67,896/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 2.6%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Carmel
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$67,896
$132,859 vs $64,963/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
77% lower
66.0 vs 285.7 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Kenosha
Median Home Value
$232k less
$194,400 vs $425,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Kenosha, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $194,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,079 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $64,963 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 41 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Kenosha School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer | 31.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" ✓ Less | 36.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 99,493 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 58.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 23.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Kenosha's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 17 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 17 and Kenosha 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 Kenosha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $194,400 median home), income ($132,859 vs $64,963), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Kenosha, WI are about 202 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.