Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Carmel leads 13 of 23 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
Tyler
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
106,440 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $69,803 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Tyler
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 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 2% higher than Tyler
Tyler, TX
Pros
Homes cost $221k less ($205,200 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $386/mo less ($1,113 vs $1,499)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 35°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Carmel
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $69,803/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Median Income
$69,803
$132,859 vs $63,056/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
83% lower
66.0 vs 391.2 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Tyler
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Median Home Value
$221k less
$205,200 vs $425,900
Tyler
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 106,440 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 13 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 13 and Tyler wins 10. 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $205,200 median home), income ($132,859 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Tyler, TX are about 734 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.