Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 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
Syracuse
New York
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High
Population
146,134 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $89,275 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.0 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)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $308k less ($117,900 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $567/mo less ($932 vs $1,499)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $89,275/yr
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$89,275
$132,859 vs $43,584/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
91% lower
66.0 vs 765.3 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
6.0 pp lower
2.6% vs 8.6% unemployment
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$308k less
$117,900 vs $425,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 95.2 |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 146,134 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 17 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 17 and Syracuse 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 Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $117,900 median home), income ($132,859 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Syracuse, NY are about 559 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.