Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Tyler leads 13 of 22 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $21k less ($184,600 vs $205,200)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°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 Tyler by $3,946/yr
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Tyler
Tyler, TX
Pros
55% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 34°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Households earn $3,946 more per year on average
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Indianapolis
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$21k less
$184,600 vs $205,200
Tyler
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Median Income
$3,946
$63,056 vs $59,110/yr
Tyler
Violent Crime
55% lower
391.2 vs 877.9 per 100k
Tyler
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 83.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 ✓ Lower | $205,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 ✓ Lower | $1,113 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 | $63,056 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 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 | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tyler leads 13 of 22 categories. Indianapolis wins 9 and Tyler wins 13. 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $205,200 median home), income ($59,110 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Tyler, TX are about 725 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.