Carmel vs Lawrence
Carmel, Indiana versus Lawrence, Indiana: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Carmel edges out Lawrence on overall objective livability (50 vs 45 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Carmel | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $133k | $71k |
| Cost of Living | $53k | $44k |
| Home Value | $426k | $193k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.85% | 0.92% |
| Income Tax | 5.20% | 5.22% |
| Sales Tax | 7.00% | 7.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 10.23% | 10.05% |
| Unemployment | 2.6% | 5.4% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 29°F | 29°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 76°F | 76°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2 in | 46.6 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3 in | 26.7 in |
| Sunny Days | 168 days | 168 days |
| Summer Humidity | 65°F | 65°F |
| Comfortable Days | 84 days | 84 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 32.3 | 38.8 |
| Air Quality | 50 AQI | 50 AQI |
| School Quality | 57.1 | 46.8 |
| Violent Crime | 323/100k | 1467/100k |
| Property Crime | 813/100k | 1985/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 49,218 |
| Median Age | 40.6 | 34.4 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.36 | 0.61 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.92 | 0.90 |
| Political Leaning | Even | D+30 |
| White (%) | 76.8% | 48.0% |
| Black (%) | 3.5% | 26.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 4.4% | 18.5% |
| Asian (%) | 11.3% | 1.4% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.0% | 5.3% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 25 min | 25 min |
| Walkability | 9.5/20 | 7.7/20 |
| Airport Distance | 19 mi | 19 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 96.5% | 87.8% |
| Amenities Nearby | 40.82 | 32.51 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Carmel or Lawrence more affordable?
- Lawrence has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Carmel's $53k and Lawrence's $44k. Median rent is $1k in Carmel versus $1k in Lawrence.
- Is Carmel or Lawrence safer?
- Carmel has the lower violent crime rate. Carmel reports 323/100k and Lawrence reports 1467/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Carmel or Lawrence?
- The median home value is $426k in Carmel and $193k in Lawrence, so homes are more affordable in Lawrence.