Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Carmel leads 18 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Portland
Oregon
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
91% less violent crime than Portland
Households earn $46,983 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (2.6%)
Homes cost $97k less ($425,900 vs $523,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Portland, OR
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 35°F
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $46,983/yr
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Carmel
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$46,983
$132,859 vs $85,876/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
91% lower
66.0 vs 720.1 per 100k
Carmel
Median Home Value
$97k less
$425,900 vs $523,100
Carmel
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Carmel
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $85,876 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 52.5% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 38.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 18 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 18 and Portland wins 5. 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $523,100 median home), income ($132,859 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Portland, OR are about 1,875 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.