Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Carmel leads 16 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Rialto
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
90% less violent crime than Rialto
Households earn $52,109 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.7 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Rialto, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 35°F
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $52,109/yr
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Carmel
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$52,109
$132,859 vs $80,750/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
90% lower
66.0 vs 641.7 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
6.7 pp lower
2.6% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $418,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,553⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $80,750 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 103,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 62.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 16 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 16 and Rialto 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $418,300 median home), income ($132,859 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Rialto, CA are about 1,760 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.