Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Orem leads 15 of 22 categories
Orem
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
South Bend
Indiana
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
82% less violent crime than South Bend
Households earn $28,512 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 6% higher than South Bend
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $279k less ($113,800 vs $392,900)
Rent averages $355/mo less ($935 vs $1,290)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Orem
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orem by $28,512/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.4%)
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Median Income
$28,512
$77,568 vs $49,056/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
82% lower
174.5 vs 965.0 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$279k less
$113,800 vs $392,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 103,084 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 26.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Orem leads 15 of 22 categories. Orem wins 15 and South Bend wins 7. 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 Orem to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $113,800 median home), income ($77,568 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and South Bend, IN are about 1,325 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.