Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami Gardens, FL
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 13 of 23 categories
Miami Gardens
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,618 ✓ 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.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
57% less violent crime than South Bend
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 32°F
Households earn $7,015 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than South Bend
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.5%)
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $186k less ($113,800 vs $299,700)
Rent averages $648/mo less ($935 vs $1,583)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Miami Gardens by $7,015/yr
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami Gardens
Median Income
$7,015
$56,071 vs $49,056/yr
Miami Gardens
Violent Crime
57% lower
414.6 vs 965.0 per 100k
Miami Gardens
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$186k less
$113,800 vs $299,700
South Bend
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami Gardens, FL | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $299,700 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,583⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,071 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.7% | 28.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.4% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 40.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,618 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 38.2 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.7% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami Gardens's cost of living index is 111.8 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 13 of 23 categories. Miami Gardens 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 Miami Gardens to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($299,700 vs $113,800 median home), income ($56,071 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami Gardens, FL and South Bend, IN are about 1,140 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.