Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Carmel leads 17 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
St. Paul
Minnesota
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $62,940 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than St. Paul
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $161k less ($264,900 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $325/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,499)
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $62,940/yr
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$62,940
$132,859 vs $69,919/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
89% lower
66.0 vs 617.7 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.0% unemployment
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$161k less
$264,900 vs $425,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 15.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 42.8% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 17 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 17 and St. Paul wins 6. 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 St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $264,900 median home), income ($132,859 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and St. Paul, MN are about 494 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.