Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $46,514 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than South Bend
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 32°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than South Bend
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $483k less ($113,800 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $1235/mo less ($935 vs $2,170)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $46,514/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
Boca Raton
Median Income
$46,514
$95,570 vs $49,056/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
82% lower
171.0 vs 965.0 per 100k
Boca Raton
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$483k less
$113,800 vs $597,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 40.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 103,084 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories. Boca Raton 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 Boca Raton to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $113,800 median home), income ($95,570 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and South Bend, IN are about 1,114 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.