Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chandler, AZ
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Chandler leads 16 of 23 categories
Chandler
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,374 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
275,618 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
7
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.
Chandler, AZ
Pros
Households earn $50,318 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than South Bend
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 46.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,900
Higher rents — median is $1,675/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than South Bend
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $310k less ($113,800 vs $423,900)
Rent averages $740/mo less ($935 vs $1,675)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 106°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Chandler
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Chandler by $50,318/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
Chandler
Median Income
$50,318
$99,374 vs $49,056/yr
Chandler
Violent Crime
86% lower
133.4 vs 965.0 per 100k
Chandler
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Chandler
Summer Heat
22.9°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 101.4 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$310k less
$113,800 vs $423,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chandler, AZ | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.4⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $423,900⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,675⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,374 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.2% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.7" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 275,618 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chandler's cost of living index is 101.4 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chandler leads 16 of 23 categories. Chandler wins 16 and South Bend wins 7. 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 Chandler to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,900 vs $113,800 median home), income ($99,374 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chandler, AZ and South Bend, IN are about 1,511 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.