Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Chico leads 13 of 23 categories
Chico
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
102,790
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
28% less violent crime than South Bend
Households earn $16,876 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than South Bend
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $314k less ($113,800 vs $427,600)
Rent averages $425/mo less ($935 vs $1,360)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Chico by $16,876/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
Chico
Median Income
$16,876
$65,932 vs $49,056/yr
Chico
Violent Crime
28% lower
699.2 vs 965.0 per 100k
Chico
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$314k less
$113,800 vs $427,600
South Bend
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 103,084 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chico leads 13 of 23 categories. Chico 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 Chico to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $113,800 median home), income ($65,932 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and South Bend, IN are about 1,853 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.