Carmel receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Carmel
Plainfield
Opportunity
85 · Top 3%
vs76 · Top 13%
Growth
76 · Top 8%
vs63 · Top 28%
Climate
68 · Bottom 39%
vs67 · Bottom 39%
Physical resilience
76 · Top 30%
vs74 · Top 32%
Housing affordability
95 · Top 20%
vs92 · Top 28%
Schools
86 · Top 6%
vs77 · Top 18%
Access
89 · Bottom 39%
vs95 · Top 40%
Economic stability
77 · Top 12%
vs60 · Bottom 49%
Measured values
| Metric | Carmel | Plainfield | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 101,651 | 36,369 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $141,505 | $87,272 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $73,549 | $38,621 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,071/sq mi | 1,351/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $486,800 | $280,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,712 | $1,499 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 74.3% | 62.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% | 3.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.7% | -0.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 74.4% | 32.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 3.9% | 8.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,015 | 190 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 10.0 | 5.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 43.6% | -39.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 21°F | 21°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.7" | 43.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 19 mi | 4 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 24.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.6 | 38.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 17 | 9 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.09 | 18.72 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 67.9% | 62.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 65.9% | 58.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 12.8% | 37.0% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Carmel
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake.
Plainfield
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Carmel
82
Your Score
81
Area Score
Plainfield
75
Your Score
75
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Carmel, IN · Plainfield, IN · How this is calculated: methodology