Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Carmel leads 13 of 22 categories
Carmel
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Tulsa
Oklahoma
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High
Population
411,938 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $76,211 more per year on average
93% less violent crime than Tulsa
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (2.6%)
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
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $252k less ($174,200 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $541/mo less ($958 vs $1,499)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Carmel
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $76,211/yr
Violent crime (941.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3627.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Median Income
$76,211
$132,859 vs $56,648/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
93% lower
66.0 vs 941.9 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Tulsa
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$252k less
$174,200 vs $425,900
Tulsa
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 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 | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 52.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carmel leads 13 of 22 categories. Carmel wins 13 and Tulsa 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 Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $174,200 median home), income ($132,859 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Tulsa, OK are about 593 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.