City comparison
No. Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 216 in Indianapolis, and its violent crime index is 165 versus 246, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Indianapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,156 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
The cost gap between Indianapolis and Anaheim is the real story here. Indianapolis comes in 47% cheaper on typical rent ($1,156 vs $2,175), which over a year adds up to $12,228. Median household income runs $66,219 in Indianapolis and $95,227 in Anaheim.
Anaheim is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Indianapolis makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Anaheim is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Indianapolis at $1,156 average has pockets that run $956 and others at $1,556: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Indianapolis and Anaheim are 1,794 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,156 a month in Indianapolis to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $1,019 a month (88%).
Median household income goes from $66,219 in Indianapolis to $95,227 in Anaheim, up $29,008 (44%).
The crime index goes from 216 in Indianapolis to 143 in Anaheim, down 73 points (34%).
The move
Anaheim and Indianapolis are 1,794 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $1,156 a month in Indianapolis, down $1,019 a month (47%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $66,219 in Indianapolis, down $29,008 (30%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 216 in Indianapolis, up 73 points (51%).
Indianapolis, IN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Indianapolis and Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
47% cheaper
Indianapolis rent is 47% cheaper than Anaheim
Indianapolis
Winner$1,156/mo
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Typical rent runs $1,156 a month in Indianapolis versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so Indianapolis is 47% cheaper. That's roughly $1,019/month back in your pocket ($12,228/year). Over five years that's $61,140 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Anaheim, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Indianapolis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
44% higher
Anaheim's median income is 44% higher than Indianapolis
Indianapolis
$66,219
Anaheim
Winner$95,227
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $66,219 in Indianapolis, so typical pay runs 44% higher in Anaheim (about $29,008 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Anaheim is the stronger labor market on paper. Indianapolis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
34% lower crime
Anaheim's crime index is 34% lower than Indianapolis
Indianapolis
216 (100 = avg)
Anaheim
Winner143 (100 = avg)
Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 216 in Indianapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 34% lower in Anaheim. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Anaheim is the easier city. Indianapolis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Anaheim weather is 28% more comfortable than Indianapolis
Indianapolis
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Anaheim
Winner76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Indianapolis averages about 57°F (66°F highs); Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs). Indianapolis averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Anaheim sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Anaheim scores 28% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Indianapolis if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 47% cheaper here at about $1,156 a month. Choose Indianapolis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 44% higher ($95,227), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Anaheim is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 34% lower than Indianapolis (143 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,156/month in Indianapolis versus $2,175 in Anaheim. Median income reads $66,219 in Indianapolis and $95,227 in Anaheim, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Indianapolis rent at $1,156/month is still below Anaheim's $2,175, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 37/100 in Indianapolis and 49/100 in Anaheim.
Pick Indianapolis when shaving $1,019 off rent at $1,156/month is the priority. Otherwise, Anaheim's case rests on $2,175/month rent with $95,227 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Indianapolis and Anaheim, plus other cities in IN and CA.
