Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 14 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$49,056 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
103,084
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $26k less ($87,400 vs $113,800)
Rent averages $84/mo less ($851 vs $935)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than South Bend
Cons
Violent crime (1561.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails South Bend by $11,785/yr
Property crime (4426.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (11.9% vs 5.5%)
South Bend, IN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.4 pts lower (5.5%)
38% less violent crime than Cleveland
Households earn $11,785 more per year on average
More college-educated — 28.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$26k less
$87,400 vs $113,800
South Bend
Median Income
$11,785
$49,056 vs $37,271/yr
South Bend
Violent Crime
38% lower
965.0 vs 1561.1 per 100k
South Bend
Unemployment
6.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 11.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $113,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $935 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $49,056 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 191⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 254⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 28.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 14 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 9 and South Bend wins 14. 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 Cleveland to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $113,800 median home), income ($37,271 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and South Bend, IN are about 238 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.