Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 13 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
103,084
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $27,276 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than South Bend
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $215k less ($113,800 vs $328,700)
Rent averages $332/mo less ($935 vs $1,267)
17% less violent crime than Minneapolis
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 32°F vs 22°F
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $27,276/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
Minneapolis
Median Income
$27,276
$76,332 vs $49,056/yr
South Bend
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Violent Crime
17% lower
965.0 vs 1160.2 per 100k
South Bend
Median Home Value
$215k less
$113,800 vs $328,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 191⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 254⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 31.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 13 of 23 categories. Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $113,800 median home), income ($76,332 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and South Bend, IN are about 419 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.