Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Waco, 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
Waco
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
140,545 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $85,438 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Waco
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (2.6%)
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 4% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $252k less ($174,100 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $461/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,499)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Carmel
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $85,438/yr
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Median Income
$85,438
$132,859 vs $47,421/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
85% lower
66.0 vs 425.9 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.5% unemployment
Waco
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$252k less
$174,100 vs $425,900
Waco
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 13 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 13 and Waco 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $174,100 median home), income ($132,859 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Waco, TX are about 848 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.