Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 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
San Tan Valley
Arizona
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466
Violent Crime Index
62
Population
101,207 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
72% less violent crime than San Tan Valley
Households earn $44,393 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (2.6%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $122k less ($304,000 vs $425,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 35°F
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $44,393/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 2.6%)
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$44,393
$132,859 vs $88,466/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
72% lower
66.0 vs 235.7 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.5% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$122k less
$304,000 vs $425,900
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
19.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $88,466 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 56 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 46 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 92.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 101,207 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 15 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 15 and San Tan Valley 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $304,000 median home), income ($132,859 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 1,480 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.