Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Kenosha, WI
🏆 Indianapolis leads 12 of 23 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Kenosha
Wisconsin
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,963 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Kenosha
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
More college-educated — 33.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Kenosha by $5,853/yr
Kenosha, WI
Pros
67% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Households earn $5,853 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Indianapolis
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Kenosha
Median Income
$5,853
$64,963 vs $59,110/yr
Kenosha
Violent Crime
67% lower
285.7 vs 877.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Kenosha, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 ✓ Lower | $194,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 ✓ Lower | $1,079 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 | $64,963 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | Kenosha School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F ✓ Warmer | 31.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" ✓ Less | 36.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 99,493 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 23.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Kenosha's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Indianapolis leads 12 of 23 categories. Indianapolis wins 12 and Kenosha wins 11. 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 Indianapolis to Kenosha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $194,400 median home), income ($59,110 vs $64,963), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Kenosha, WI are about 214 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.