Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 12 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
12
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.
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $36,820 more per year on average
25% less violent crime than South Bend
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than South Bend
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $409k less ($113,800 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $595/mo less ($935 vs $1,530)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $36,820/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
Portland
Median Income
$36,820
$85,876 vs $49,056/yr
Portland
Violent Crime
25% lower
720.1 vs 965.0 per 100k
South Bend
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$409k less
$113,800 vs $523,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 191⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" | 40.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 12 of 23 categories. Portland wins 11 and South Bend wins 12. 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 Portland to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $113,800 median home), income ($85,876 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and South Bend, IN are about 1,824 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.