Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 14 of 23 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
Yuma
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
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 2.1 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 107°F
More college-educated — 33.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
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
Yuma, AZ
Pros
52% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 34°F
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.6%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Violent Crime
52% lower
423.6 vs 877.9 per 100k
Yuma
Summer Heat
23.0°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 83.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 ✓ Lower | $186,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 | $59,312 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yuma leads 14 of 23 categories. Indianapolis wins 9 and Yuma 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $186,500 median home), income ($59,110 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Yuma, AZ are about 1,653 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.