Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lansing, MI
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 14 of 23 categories
Lansing
Michigan
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$50,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056
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.
Lansing, MI
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 5.5%)
Snowy winters — about 50" of snow per year
South Bend, IN
Pros
28% less violent crime than Lansing
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.5%)
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Lansing
Median Income
$1,691
$50,747 vs $49,056/yr
South Bend
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Violent Crime
28% lower
965.0 vs 1345.1 per 100k
South Bend
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lansing, MI | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $112,200 ✓ Lower | $113,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $954 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,747 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 260⚠ High | 191⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 254⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.3% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lansing Public School District | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.6°F | 31.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.2" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 112,986 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lansing's cost of living index is 92.8 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 14 of 23 categories. Lansing 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 Lansing to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,200 vs $113,800 median home), income ($50,747 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lansing, MI and South Bend, IN are about 113 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.