Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 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
Waterbury
Connecticut
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
114,480 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $81,408 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Waterbury
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.2 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
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $263k less ($162,800 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $359/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,499)
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $81,408/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 2.6%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$81,408
$132,859 vs $51,451/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
80% lower
66.0 vs 322.5 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
7.2 pp lower
2.6% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$263k less
$162,800 vs $425,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 114,480 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 36.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 18 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 18 and Waterbury 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $162,800 median home), income ($132,859 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Waterbury, CT are about 694 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.