Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Carmel leads 14 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Sugar Land
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$132,247
Violent Crime Index
21
Population
110,077 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Rent averages $369/mo less ($1,499 vs $1,868)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 35°F
Homes cost $38k less ($387,900 vs $425,900)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 2.6%)
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Carmel
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$612
$132,859 vs $132,247/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
15% lower
66.0 vs 78.0 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.0% unemployment
Sugar Land
Median Home Value
$38k less
$387,900 vs $425,900
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $387,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $132,247 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 39 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 21 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 61.3% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 94.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 110,077 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 14 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 14 and Sugar Land wins 9. 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 Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $387,900 median home), income ($132,859 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Sugar Land, TX are about 895 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.