Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 14 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
9
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.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
73% less violent crime than South Bend
Households earn $17,031 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($113,800 vs $247,900)
Rent averages $130/mo less ($935 vs $1,065)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $17,031/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
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$17,031
$66,087 vs $49,056/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
73% lower
262.0 vs 965.0 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$134k less
$113,800 vs $247,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" | 40.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 14 of 23 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 14 and South Bend wins 9. 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 Lexington-Fayette urban county to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $113,800 median home), income ($66,087 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and South Bend, IN are about 269 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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