Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salem, OR
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Salem leads 12 of 23 categories
Salem
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
11
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.
Salem, OR
Pros
45% less violent crime than South Bend
Households earn $18,484 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than South Bend
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $236k less ($113,800 vs $349,500)
Rent averages $289/mo less ($935 vs $1,224)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Salem by $18,484/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
Salem
Median Income
$18,484
$67,540 vs $49,056/yr
Salem
Violent Crime
45% lower
532.2 vs 965.0 per 100k
South Bend
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$236k less
$113,800 vs $349,500
South Bend
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salem, OR | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $349,500⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,224 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,540 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.3% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 133⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.6:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.5" | 40.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.1" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 175,754 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salem's cost of living index is 102.4 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 12 of 23 categories. Salem wins 12 and South Bend wins 11. 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 Salem to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($349,500 vs $113,800 median home), income ($67,540 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salem, OR and South Bend, IN are about 1,846 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.