Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Carmel leads 19 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Long Beach
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
90% less violent crime than Long Beach
Households earn $53,864 more per year on average
Homes cost $284k less ($425,900 vs $709,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 35°F
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $53,864/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Carmel
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$53,864
$132,859 vs $78,995/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
90% lower
66.0 vs 676.4 per 100k
Carmel
Median Home Value
$284k less
$425,900 vs $709,700
Carmel
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Carmel
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $78,995 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 19 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 19 and Long Beach wins 4. 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 Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $709,700 median home), income ($132,859 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Long Beach, CA are about 1,810 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.