Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Des Moines leads 12 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
11
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.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
27% less violent crime than South Bend
Households earn $13,322 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $57k less ($113,800 vs $170,700)
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
Median income trails Des Moines by $13,322/yr
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Median Income
$13,322
$62,378 vs $49,056/yr
Des Moines
Violent Crime
27% lower
703.0 vs 965.0 per 100k
South Bend
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$57k less
$113,800 vs $170,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 28.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 31.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 12 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 12 and South Bend wins 11. 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 Des Moines to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $113,800 median home), income ($62,378 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and South Bend, IN are about 379 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.