Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 12 of 23 categories
Los Angeles
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
12
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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,188 more per year on average
25% less violent crime than South Bend
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than South Bend
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $709k less ($113,800 vs $822,600)
Rent averages $856/mo less ($935 vs $1,791)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Los Angeles by $27,188/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
Los Angeles
Median Income
$27,188
$76,244 vs $49,056/yr
Los Angeles
Violent Crime
25% lower
728.5 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
$709k less
$113,800 vs $822,600
South Bend
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.7% unemployment
South Bend
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 83.0°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, 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 | $822,600⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles'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 12 of 23 categories. Los Angeles wins 11 and South Bend wins 12. 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 Los Angeles to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $113,800 median home), income ($76,244 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and South Bend, IN are about 1,820 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.