Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 14 of 23 categories
Ontario
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
14
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.
Ontario, CA
Pros
72% less violent crime than South Bend
Households earn $29,014 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than South Bend
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $399k less ($113,800 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $891/mo less ($935 vs $1,826)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
More college-educated — 28.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $29,014/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
Ontario
Median Income
$29,014
$78,070 vs $49,056/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
72% lower
272.2 vs 965.0 per 100k
Ontario
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$399k less
$113,800 vs $513,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 28.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 14 of 23 categories. Ontario wins 9 and South Bend wins 14. 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 Ontario to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $113,800 median home), income ($78,070 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and South Bend, IN are about 1,778 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.