Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Roanoke leads 14 of 23 categories
Roanoke
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,213
South Bend
Indiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
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.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
36% less violent crime than South Bend
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.5%)
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $48k less ($113,800 vs $162,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
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
Roanoke
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Income
$2,467
$51,523 vs $49,056/yr
Roanoke
Violent Crime
36% lower
620.4 vs 965.0 per 100k
Roanoke
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Median Home Value
$48k less
$113,800 vs $162,000
South Bend
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $935 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 28.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 40.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 | 103,084 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 14 of 23 categories. Roanoke wins 14 and South Bend wins 9. 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 Roanoke to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $113,800 median home), income ($51,523 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and South Bend, IN are about 453 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.