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Living in
Carmel.
About
Life in Carmel
Moving to Carmel means joining a prosperous suburban community that's genuinely invested in quality of life, though you'll pay handsomely for the privilege. The median household income here is $141,505 and median home prices hover around $486,800, so this is unquestionably an affluent area—if you're financially comfortable, the investment often feels worthwhile. The job market is stable with a 2.9% unemployment rate, anchored by over 40 corporate headquarters along the Meridian Corridor (companies like Allegion, CNO Financial Group, and Delta Faucet), which means solid career opportunities and professional networking without needing to commute downtown to Indianapolis, though you'll still spend about 25 minutes getting around locally.
Carmel at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.9%
Foreign-Born
14.1%
Broadband Internet
97.1%
of households
Population Growth
+5.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics14.1% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Carmel: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Carmel, the largest foreign-born group is from India (24.5%), and 3.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.5%
of residents
65 and Older
14.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.6%
of households
Married Couples
63.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.63
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 61% above IN average
Rent, home values, and income in Carmel
In Carmel, rent runs 61% above the IN average, and home values are 123% above the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,056
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
74.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1998
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $575,492 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts below IN average
Unemployment in Carmel and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Carmel is 0.8 percentage points lower than the IN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Carmel Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN metro area
Commute24.6 min avg
How Carmel residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Carmel, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 20 mi
Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
Medium hub5.2M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 85% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Carmel runs 85% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
50.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
688.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Carmel Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
88.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Hamilton County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Hamilton County, which includes Carmel, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $783,000 |
| 2024 | 9 | Hail | $219,000 |
| 2023 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $695,000 |
| 2022 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $46,000 |
| 2021 | 13 | Hail | $160,500 |
| 2020 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $520,500 |
| 2019 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $307,000 |
| 2018 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Hamilton County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hamilton County, which includes Carmel, is typically good — 233 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
233
per year
Moderate Days
126
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Hamilton County, county-wide
Climate83°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Carmel has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
38°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.2"
Annual Snowfall
20.3"
Hot Days/Year
18
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
122
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
126
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°F | 19°F | 2.75" |
| Feb | 39°F | 21°F | 2.16" |
| Mar | 49°F | 30°F | 3.39" |
| Apr | 62°F | 41°F | 4.25" |
| May | 72°F | 51°F | 4.97" |
| Jun | 81°F | 61°F | 5.45" |
| Jul | 84°F | 64°F | 4.27" |
| Aug | 83°F | 62°F | 4.19" |
| Sep | 77°F | 55°F | 3.46" |
| Oct | 65°F | 43°F | 3.30" |
| Nov | 51°F | 33°F | 3.44" |
| Dec | 39°F | 24°F | 2.77" |
Healthcare4 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Carmel
Carmel has 4 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
4
within city limits
Uninsured
3.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
St Vincent Heart Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Indiana University Health North Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Ascension St Vincent Carmel
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Franciscan Health Orthopedic Hospital Carmel
Acute Care Hospitals
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Ascension St Vincent Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.5 mi away · Indianapolis
Fairbanks
Acute Care Hospitals · 7.1 mi away · Indianapolis
Community Hospital North
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.1 mi away · Indianapolis
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Carmel
Carmel's student/teacher ratio is 16.4:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 74.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
11
within city limits
College Degree Rate
74.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Carmel (within 15 miles)
Indiana University-Indianapolis
13.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 13,830 students · in-state tuition $10,762 · 57% graduate · median earnings $58,990 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,317 students · in-state tuition $49,890 · 80% graduate · median earnings $83,535 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,266 students · in-state tuition $42,100 · 60% graduate · median earnings $64,806 (10 yrs after entry)
Chamberlain University-Indiana
3.7 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 144 students · in-state tuition $20,845 · 49% graduate · median earnings $96,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 123 students · in-state tuition $17,740 · 69% graduate · median earnings $40,075 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Carmel
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Carmel
Carmel Clay Public Library
425 East Main Street, Carmel
Joyce Winner West Branch
12770 Horseferry Rd, Carmel
Cities Near Carmel
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Carmel?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Carmel FAQ
Is Carmel, Indiana affordable?⌄
Carmel's median rent is $1,712/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $141,505/year. Median home value is $486,800.
Is Carmel, Indiana safe?⌄
Carmel's violent crime rate was 51 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 689 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Carmel, Indiana?⌄
Carmel has an unemployment rate of 2.9%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Carmel, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in Carmel is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,712/month and median household income is $141,505/year. The median home value is $486,800. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Carmel, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in Carmel is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from