Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Manchester leads 14 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037 ✓ 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.
Manchester, NH
Pros
65% less violent crime than South Bend
Households earn $24,984 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 32.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than South Bend
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $191k less ($113,800 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $427/mo less ($935 vs $1,362)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Manchester by $24,984/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.2%)
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Median Income
$24,984
$74,040 vs $49,056/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
65% lower
336.0 vs 965.0 per 100k
Manchester
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
South Bend
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$191k less
$113,800 vs $304,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 31.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 40.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Manchester leads 14 of 23 categories. Manchester 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 Manchester to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $113,800 median home), income ($74,040 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and South Bend, IN are about 762 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.