Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 13 of 23 categories
Long Beach
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
13
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.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,939 more per year on average
30% less violent crime than South Bend
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than South Bend
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $596k less ($113,800 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $763/mo less ($935 vs $1,698)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Long Beach by $29,939/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
Long Beach
Median Income
$29,939
$78,995 vs $49,056/yr
Long Beach
Violent Crime
30% lower
676.4 vs 965.0 per 100k
South Bend
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$596k less
$113,800 vs $709,700
South Bend
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 13 of 23 categories. Long Beach wins 10 and South Bend wins 13. 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 Long Beach to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $113,800 median home), income ($78,995 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and South Bend, IN are about 1,815 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.