Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 Carmel leads 12 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
McAllen
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $76,533 more per year on average
56% less violent crime than McAllen
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)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than McAllen
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $267k less ($158,700 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $544/mo less ($955 vs $1,499)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 35°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Carmel
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $76,533/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Median Income
$76,533
$132,859 vs $56,326/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
56% lower
66.0 vs 150.0 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
McAllen
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Home Value
$267k less
$158,700 vs $425,900
McAllen
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 39 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 12 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 12 and McAllen wins 11. 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $158,700 median home), income ($132,859 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and McAllen, TX are about 1,177 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.