Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 12 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1
Median Household Income
$49,191 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
12
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.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
12% less violent crime than South Bend
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 32°F
Cons
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.5%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than South Bend
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $78k less ($113,800 vs $192,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Cincinnati
Cons
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
Cincinnati
Violent Crime
12% lower
845.6 vs 965.0 per 100k
Cincinnati
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 86.6°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 94.1 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$78k less
$113,800 vs $192,000
South Bend
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $935 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 191⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 40.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 12 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 11 and South Bend wins 12. 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 Cincinnati to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $113,800 median home), income ($49,191 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and South Bend, IN are about 198 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.