Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Charleston, SC
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 13 of 23 categories
North Charleston
South Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2
Median Household Income
$58,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
115,755 ✓ 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.
North Charleston, SC
Pros
16% less violent crime than South Bend
Households earn $9,478 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 32°F
Cons
Violent crime (810.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3955.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than South Bend
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($113,800 vs $243,300)
Rent averages $353/mo less ($935 vs $1,288)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than North Charleston
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails North Charleston by $9,478/yr
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.3%)
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
North Charleston
Median Income
$9,478
$58,534 vs $49,056/yr
North Charleston
Violent Crime
16% lower
810.5 vs 965.0 per 100k
North Charleston
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
North Charleston
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$130k less
$113,800 vs $243,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Charleston, SC | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.2 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,300 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,288 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,534 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.6 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 203⚠ High | 191⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 28.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.6" | 40.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,755 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 33.8 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Charleston's cost of living index is 98.2 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 13 of 23 categories. North Charleston 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 North Charleston to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,300 vs $113,800 median home), income ($58,534 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Charleston, SC and South Bend, IN are about 694 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.