Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Ann Arbor leads 14 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
122,216 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
Households earn $29,490 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than South Bend
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than South Bend
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $303k less ($113,800 vs $416,500)
Rent averages $537/mo less ($935 vs $1,472)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Ann Arbor
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Ann Arbor by $29,490/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.7%)
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Median Income
$29,490
$78,546 vs $49,056/yr
Ann Arbor
Violent Crime
69% lower
302.5 vs 965.0 per 100k
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
South Bend
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$303k less
$113,800 vs $416,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 31.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Ann Arbor leads 14 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 14 and South Bend wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Ann Arbor to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $113,800 median home), income ($78,546 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and South Bend, IN are about 137 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.