Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Glendale leads 14 of 22 categories
Glendale
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512 ✓ 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.
Glendale, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,163 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than South Bend
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than South Bend
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $878k less ($113,800 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $1067/mo less ($935 vs $2,002)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $32,163/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
Glendale
Median Income
$32,163
$81,219 vs $49,056/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
70% lower
287.2 vs 965.0 per 100k
South Bend
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$878k less
$113,800 vs $992,000
South Bend
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Glendale leads 14 of 22 categories. Glendale wins 14 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 Glendale to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $113,800 median home), income ($81,219 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and South Bend, IN are about 1,806 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.