Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kenosha, WI
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Kenosha
Wisconsin
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,963 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kenosha, WI
Pros
70% less violent crime than South Bend
Households earn $15,907 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 11% higher than South Bend
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $81k less ($113,800 vs $194,400)
Rent averages $144/mo less ($935 vs $1,079)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Kenosha
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
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 Kenosha by $15,907/yr
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Kenosha
Median Income
$15,907
$64,963 vs $49,056/yr
Kenosha
Violent Crime
70% lower
285.7 vs 965.0 per 100k
South Bend
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$81k less
$113,800 vs $194,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kenosha, WI | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $194,400 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,079 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,963 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% | 28.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kenosha School District | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.3°F | 31.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.2" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,493 | 103,084 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenosha's cost of living index is 102.6 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Kenosha wins 11 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 Kenosha to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($194,400 vs $113,800 median home), income ($64,963 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kenosha, WI and South Bend, IN are about 104 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.