Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 13 of 23 categories
Richmond
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
115,619 ✓ 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.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,562 more per year on average
4% less violent crime than South Bend
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 83°F
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than South Bend
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $511k less ($113,800 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $918/mo less ($935 vs $1,853)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $37,562/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
Richmond
Median Income
$37,562
$86,618 vs $49,056/yr
Richmond
Violent Crime
4% lower
923.1 vs 965.0 per 100k
South Bend
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$511k less
$113,800 vs $624,800
South Bend
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
South Bend
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 83.0°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High | 191⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 13 of 23 categories. Richmond 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 Richmond to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $113,800 median home), income ($86,618 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and South Bend, IN are about 1,919 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.