Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Carmel leads 19 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Westminster
Colorado
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,651
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
115,502 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
78% less violent crime than Westminster
Households earn $42,208 more per year on average
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 1.5 pts lower (2.6%)
Rent averages $233/mo less ($1,499 vs $1,732)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Westminster, CO
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 35°F
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $42,208/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,732/mo
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Carmel
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$42,208
$132,859 vs $90,651/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
78% lower
66.0 vs 303.6 per 100k
Carmel
Median Home Value
$41k less
$425,900 vs $467,200
Carmel
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.1% unemployment
Westminster
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $90,651 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 15.7% |
| 🔒 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 | 80 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 115,502 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 63.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 19 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 19 and Westminster wins 4. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $467,200 median home), income ($132,859 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Westminster, CO are about 1,000 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.