Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 13 of 23 categories
Buffalo
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056 ✓ Higher
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.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
27% less violent crime than South Bend
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Smaller class sizes — 10.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (706.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.5%)
Snowy winters — about 95" of snow per year
South Bend, IN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Homes cost $18k less ($113,800 vs $132,100)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Households earn $2,872 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Buffalo
Cons
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
Buffalo
Violent Crime
27% lower
706.2 vs 965.0 per 100k
South Bend
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Income
$2,872
$49,056 vs $46,184/yr
South Bend
Median Home Value
$18k less
$113,800 vs $132,100
South Bend
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $49,056 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 64.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 13 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 10 and South Bend wins 13. 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 Buffalo to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $113,800 median home), income ($46,184 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and South Bend, IN are about 388 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.