Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Warren, MI
🏆 Carmel leads 18 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Warren
Michigan
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$61,633
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
138,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $71,226 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than Warren
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 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
Warren, MI
Pros
Homes cost $257k less ($169,300 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $360/mo less ($1,139 vs $1,499)
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $71,226/yr
Violent crime (541.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 2.6%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Carmel
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$71,226
$132,859 vs $61,633/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
88% lower
66.0 vs 541.8 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
2.6% vs 7.4% unemployment
Warren
Median Home Value
$257k less
$169,300 vs $425,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Warren, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $169,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,139 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $61,633 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 74 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 19.9% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 86.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Warren Consolidated Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 29.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" ✓ Less | 27.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 138,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 38.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 71.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 21.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Warren's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 18 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 18 and Warren wins 5. 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 Warren or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $169,300 median home), income ($132,859 vs $61,633), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Warren, MI are about 238 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.