Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood
Opportunity
76 · Top 15%
vs78 · Top 14%
Growth
63 · Top 29%
vs72 · Top 15%
Climate
72 · Top 31%
vs68 · Bottom 49%
Physical resilience
55 · Bottom 46%
vs69 · Top 32%
Housing affordability
78 · Bottom 27%
vs96 · Top 32%
Access
98 · Top 12%
vs97 · Top 21%
Economic stability
83 · Top 14%
vs84 · Top 14%
Measured values
| Metric | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,768,407 | 2,130,055 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $83,304 | $79,852 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $46,738 | $43,743 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 495/sq mi | 521/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $356,400 | $265,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,473 | $1,191 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.9% | 66.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.0% | -0.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.9% | 38.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.6% | 10.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 19,537 | 12,830 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.1 | 6.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -21.9% | 5.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 21°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.6" | 40.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 9 mi | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 27.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.9 | 36.9 | 2024 ACS 5-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
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood
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.
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia
75
Your Score
72
Area Score
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood
80
Your Score
79
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metro Area · Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology