Carmel, IN vs Fairhope, AL
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Carmel
74.5
#579 nationally
Fairhope
69
#1262 nationally
Carmel leads in median household income ($121,400 vs $85,456). Carmel leads in cost of living index (108 vs 118). Carmel leads in average commute (23.5 min vs 24.7 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Fairhope, AL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 74.5 (#579) | 69 (#1262) |
| Population | 104,776 | 24,974 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $580,014 | $473,256 |
| Median Household Income | $121,400 | $85,456 |
| Average Commute | 23.5 min | 24.7 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | N/A |
| Crime Level | Very Low | 3.0 |
| School Rating | 9 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 108 | 118 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+6.1 | R+58.2 |
Data coverage note: Fairhope is missing data for 1 metric that Carmel has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
C
74.5 Score
Carmel, IN
Award-winning city planning meets Midwestern charm
Median Home
$580,014
Population
104,776
Crime
Very Low
Schools
A
Midwest
View Carmel, IN →
D+
69 Score
Fairhope, AL
Small Alabama city with local appeal
Median Home
$473,256
Population
24,974
Crime
Low
Median Income
$85,456
Southeast
View Fairhope, AL →