Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 13 of 23 categories
Carson
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
South Bend
Indiana
13
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.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $53,989 more per year on average
56% less violent crime than South Bend
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than South Bend
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $502k less ($113,800 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $880/mo less ($935 vs $1,815)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $53,989/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
Carson
Median Income
$53,989
$103,045 vs $49,056/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
56% lower
420.0 vs 965.0 per 100k
South Bend
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$502k less
$113,800 vs $616,000
South Bend
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
South Bend
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 83.0°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 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 | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 103,084 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 13 of 23 categories. Carson 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 Carson to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $113,800 median home), income ($103,045 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and South Bend, IN are about 1,817 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.