Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Carmel leads 15 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,323
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $65,536 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Redding
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)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Redding, CA
Pros
Homes cost $83k less ($343,000 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $221/mo less ($1,278 vs $1,499)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 35°F
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $65,536/yr
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 2.6%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Carmel
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$65,536
$132,859 vs $67,323/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
90% lower
66.0 vs 647.8 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
Redding
Median Home Value
$83k less
$343,000 vs $425,900
Redding
Summer Heat
15.5°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $343,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,278 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $67,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 0.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 38.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 15 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 15 and Redding wins 8. 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $343,000 median home), income ($132,859 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Redding, CA are about 1,896 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.