Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
12
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.
Arlington, TX
Pros
50% less violent crime than South Bend
Households earn $22,680 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than South Bend
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $138k less ($113,800 vs $251,300)
Rent averages $362/mo less ($935 vs $1,297)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $22,680/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$22,680
$71,736 vs $49,056/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
50% lower
482.9 vs 965.0 per 100k
Arlington
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$138k less
$113,800 vs $251,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 11 and South Bend wins 12. 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 Arlington to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $113,800 median home), income ($71,736 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and South Bend, IN are about 860 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.