Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Charleston leads 15 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
8
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.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Households earn $34,835 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than South Bend
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than South Bend
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $325k less ($113,800 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $582/mo less ($935 vs $1,517)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Charleston
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Charleston by $34,835/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.7%)
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Median Income
$34,835
$83,891 vs $49,056/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
63% lower
357.6 vs 965.0 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Charleston
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$325k less
$113,800 vs $438,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 40.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 15 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 15 and South Bend wins 8. 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 Charleston to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $113,800 median home), income ($83,891 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and South Bend, IN are about 702 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.