Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 17 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,057 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056 ✓ Higher
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.
Hartford, CT
Pros
47% less violent crime than South Bend
Cons
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails South Bend by $7,215/yr
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 5.5%)
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($113,800 vs $198,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Rent averages $219/mo less ($935 vs $1,154)
Households earn $7,215 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)
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
Hartford
Violent Crime
47% lower
515.8 vs 965.0 per 100k
South Bend
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Income
$7,215
$49,056 vs $41,841/yr
South Bend
Median Home Value
$85k less
$113,800 vs $198,900
South Bend
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 10.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $49,056 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 28.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 40.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 17 of 23 categories. Hartford wins 6 and South Bend wins 17. 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 Hartford to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $113,800 median home), income ($41,841 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and South Bend, IN are about 700 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.