Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Pueblo, CO
🏆 Carmel leads 13 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Pueblo
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,794
Violent Crime Index
375⚠ High
Population
111,430 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $80,065 more per year on average
95% less violent crime than Pueblo
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 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
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Pueblo
Pueblo, CO
Pros
Homes cost $228k less ($197,700 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $559/mo less ($940 vs $1,499)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Carmel
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $80,065/yr
Violent crime (1424.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4942.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Median Income
$80,065
$132,859 vs $52,794/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
95% lower
66.0 vs 1424.1 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Pueblo
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Pueblo
Median Home Value
$228k less
$197,700 vs $425,900
Pueblo
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.0°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Pueblo, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $197,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $940 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $52,794 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 319⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 375⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 21.8% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Pueblo School District No. 60 in the county of Pueblo and |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 93.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 14.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 111,430 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 37.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 59.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Pueblo's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Pueblo is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 13 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 13 and Pueblo wins 10. 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 Pueblo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $197,700 median home), income ($132,859 vs $52,794), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Pueblo, CO are about 995 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.