Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 14 of 23 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Tampa
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $149k less ($184,600 vs $333,200)
Rent averages $376/mo less ($1,046 vs $1,422)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
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 Tampa by $7,692/yr
Tampa, FL
Pros
49% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 34°F
Households earn $7,692 more per year on average
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Indianapolis
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$149k less
$184,600 vs $333,200
Tampa
Median Income
$7,692
$66,802 vs $59,110/yr
Tampa
Violent Crime
49% lower
444.6 vs 877.9 per 100k
Tampa
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 83.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 | $66,802 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 388,768 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 14 of 23 categories. Indianapolis wins 9 and Tampa wins 14. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $333,200 median home), income ($59,110 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Tampa, FL are about 843 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.