Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Savannah, GA
🏆 Indianapolis leads 13 of 21 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Savannah
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.6
Median Household Income
$54,748
Violent Crime Index
5 ✓ Safer
Population
147,583
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Rent averages $170/mo less ($1,046 vs $1,216)
Homes cost $19k less ($184,600 vs $203,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Households earn $4,362 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
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
Savannah, GA
Pros
98% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Violent crime is well below the national average (20.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 34°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.6%)
Median income trails Indianapolis by $4,362/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 95.6 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Income
$4,362
$59,110 vs $54,748/yr
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$19k less
$184,600 vs $203,300
Indianapolis
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Savannah
Violent Crime
98% lower
20.3 vs 877.9 per 100k
Savannah
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.3°F vs 83.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Savannah, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 95.6 |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 ✓ Lower | $203,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 ✓ Lower | $1,216 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 ✓ Higher | $54,748 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 5 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | Savannah-Chatham County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 61.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 92.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 147,583 |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Savannah's 95.6 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Indianapolis leads 13 of 21 categories. Indianapolis wins 13 and Savannah wins 8. 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 Savannah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $203,300 median home), income ($59,110 vs $54,748), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Savannah, GA are about 603 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.