Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 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
Seattle
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Homes cost $454k less ($425,900 vs $879,900)
91% less violent crime than Seattle
Rent averages $446/mo less ($1,499 vs $1,945)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (2.6%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Seattle, WA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 35°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Carmel
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$16,791
$132,859 vs $116,068/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
91% lower
66.0 vs 775.1 per 100k
Carmel
Median Home Value
$454k less
$425,900 vs $879,900
Carmel
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.2% unemployment
Carmel
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $116,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 238⚠ 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 | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 66.7% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 95.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 38.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 18 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 18 and Seattle 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $879,900 median home), income ($132,859 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Seattle, WA are about 1,863 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.