Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Orleans, LA
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 New Orleans leads 12 of 23 categories
New Orleans
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
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.
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 40.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.5%)
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($113,800 vs $281,500)
33% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.5%)
Rent averages $227/mo less ($935 vs $1,162)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
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
New Orleans
Median Income
$2,060
$51,116 vs $49,056/yr
New Orleans
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 83.0°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 91.1 on the COL index
South Bend
Violent Crime
33% lower
965.0 vs 1444.1 per 100k
South Bend
Median Home Value
$168k less
$113,800 vs $281,500
South Bend
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Orleans, LA | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $281,500 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,162 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,116 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 316⚠ High | 191⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 380⚠ High | 254⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.7% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.7% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 40.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 380,408 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.3% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Orleans's cost of living index is 91.1 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Orleans leads 12 of 23 categories. New Orleans wins 12 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 New Orleans to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($281,500 vs $113,800 median home), income ($51,116 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Orleans, LA and South Bend, IN are about 829 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.