Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Cambridge leads 13 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
10
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.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $72,483 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than South Bend
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 32°F
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than South Bend
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $884k less ($113,800 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1693/mo less ($935 vs $2,628)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $72,483/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.3%)
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$72,483
$121,539 vs $49,056/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
55% lower
436.7 vs 965.0 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
South Bend
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$884k less
$113,800 vs $997,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 40.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cambridge leads 13 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 13 and South Bend wins 10. 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 Cambridge to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $113,800 median home), income ($121,539 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and South Bend, IN are about 778 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.