Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 13 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,593,208 ✓ 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.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
6% less violent crime than South Bend
Households earn $8,481 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 32°F
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than South Bend
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.5%)
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $102k less ($113,800 vs $215,500)
Rent averages $315/mo less ($935 vs $1,250)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Philadelphia by $8,481/yr
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Income
$8,481
$57,537 vs $49,056/yr
Philadelphia
Violent Crime
6% lower
908.7 vs 965.0 per 100k
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$102k less
$113,800 vs $215,500
South Bend
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 191⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 40.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 34.8 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 13 of 23 categories. Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $113,800 median home), income ($57,537 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and South Bend, IN are about 593 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.