Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Livonia, MI
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Livonia leads 14 of 23 categories
Livonia
Michigan
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Livonia, MI
Pros
Households earn $43,402 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than South Bend
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 7% higher than South Bend
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $135k less ($113,800 vs $249,000)
Rent averages $300/mo less ($935 vs $1,235)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Livonia
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Livonia by $43,402/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
Livonia
Median Income
$43,402
$92,458 vs $49,056/yr
Livonia
Violent Crime
76% lower
228.1 vs 965.0 per 100k
Livonia
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
South Bend
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$135k less
$113,800 vs $249,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Livonia, MI | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $249,000 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,458 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.3% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.1% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Livonia Public Schools School District | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.4°F | 31.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.9°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.0" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.0" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,928 | 103,084 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 45.2 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Livonia's cost of living index is 98.0 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Livonia leads 14 of 23 categories. Livonia 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 Livonia to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($249,000 vs $113,800 median home), income ($92,458 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Livonia, MI and South Bend, IN are about 157 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.