Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Milwaukee, 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
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $83,126 more per year on average
95% less violent crime than Milwaukee
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 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
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $268k less ($157,800 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $517/mo less ($982 vs $1,499)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $83,126/yr
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 95.5 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$83,126
$132,859 vs $49,733/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
95% lower
66.0 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$268k less
$157,800 vs $425,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 95.5 |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 17 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 17 and Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $157,800 median home), income ($132,859 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Milwaukee, WI are about 234 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.