Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Carmel leads 16 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Omaha
Nebraska
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202
Violent Crime Index
97
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $62,657 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Omaha
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (2.6%)
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
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Omaha
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $216k less ($210,300 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $400/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,499)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Carmel
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $62,657/yr
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.2% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Median Income
$62,657
$132,859 vs $70,202/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
82% lower
66.0 vs 369.0 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.2% unemployment
Omaha
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Median Home Value
$216k less
$210,300 vs $425,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,099 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $70,202 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 85.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 33.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" ✓ Less | 27.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 57.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 16 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 16 and Omaha 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 Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $210,300 median home), income ($132,859 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Omaha, NE are about 527 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.