Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 12 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056 ✓ Higher
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.
Rochester, NY
Pros
40% less violent crime than South Bend
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 5.5%)
Median income trails South Bend by $4,900/yr
South Bend, IN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Households earn $4,900 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
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
Rochester
Violent Crime
40% lower
582.3 vs 965.0 per 100k
South Bend
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Income
$4,900
$49,056 vs $44,156/yr
South Bend
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $113,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $49,056 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 64.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 12 of 23 categories. Rochester 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 Rochester to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $113,800 median home), income ($44,156 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and South Bend, IN are about 453 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.