Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Boise City leads 18 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$76,402 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
5
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.
Boise City, ID
Pros
70% less violent crime than South Bend
Households earn $27,346 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $401,800
Cost of living runs 2% higher than South Bend
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $288k less ($113,800 vs $401,800)
Rent averages $288/mo less ($935 vs $1,223)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Boise City
Cons
Median income trails Boise City by $27,346/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.8%)
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Median Income
$27,346
$76,402 vs $49,056/yr
Boise City
Violent Crime
70% lower
293.8 vs 965.0 per 100k
Boise City
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Boise City
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$288k less
$113,800 vs $401,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 18 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 18 and South Bend wins 5. 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 Boise City to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $113,800 median home), income ($76,402 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and South Bend, IN are about 1,520 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.