Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashville-Davidson, TN
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
11
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.
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Households earn $22,272 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $238k less ($113,800 vs $351,400)
Rent averages $457/mo less ($935 vs $1,392)
14% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Cons
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $22,272/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.6%)
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$22,272
$71,328 vs $49,056/yr
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Nashville-Davidson
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Violent Crime
14% lower
965.0 vs 1124.1 per 100k
South Bend
Median Home Value
$238k less
$113,800 vs $351,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashville-Davidson, TN | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $351,400⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,328 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.5% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 191⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 296⚠ High | 254⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 12.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.5% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davidson County | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.7" | 40.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.7" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 684,103 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashville-Davidson's cost of living index is 97.4 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Nashville-Davidson wins 11 and South Bend wins 11. 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 Nashville-Davidson to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($351,400 vs $113,800 median home), income ($71,328 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashville-Davidson, TN and South Bend, IN are about 381 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.