Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Wichita Falls, 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
Wichita Falls
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
102,482 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $77,275 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Wichita Falls
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 1.8 pts lower (2.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $297k less ($128,800 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $550/mo less ($949 vs $1,499)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Carmel
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $77,275/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Median Income
$77,275
$132,859 vs $55,584/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
81% lower
66.0 vs 350.3 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.4% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$297k less
$128,800 vs $425,900
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 102,482 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 13 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 13 and Wichita Falls 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 Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $128,800 median home), income ($132,859 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Wichita Falls, TX are about 800 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.