Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Orange, 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
Orange
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335
Violent Crime Index
60
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Homes cost $422k less ($425,900 vs $848,200)
71% less violent crime than Orange
Rent averages $649/mo less ($1,499 vs $2,148)
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (2.6%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Orange, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Carmel
Median income trails Carmel by $23,524/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$23,524
$132,859 vs $109,335/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
71% lower
66.0 vs 226.1 per 100k
Carmel
Median Home Value
$422k less
$425,900 vs $848,200
Carmel
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $109,335 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 61 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 58.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Orange'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 Orange 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $848,200 median home), income ($132,859 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Orange, CA are about 1,794 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.