Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Carmel leads 15 of 22 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
Madison
Wisconsin
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $57,964 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Madison
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 35°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $99k less ($326,600 vs $425,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $208/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,499)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $57,964/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$57,964
$132,859 vs $74,895/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
74% lower
66.0 vs 256.0 per 100k
Madison
Median Home Value
$99k less
$326,600 vs $425,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $74,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% | 2.6% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 15.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 67 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 58.9% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 95.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carmel leads 15 of 22 categories. Carmel wins 15 and Madison 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 Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $326,600 median home), income ($132,859 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Madison, WI are about 274 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.