Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Jose, CA
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 San Jose leads 12 of 22 categories
San Jose
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
10
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.
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $86,954 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than South Bend
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than South Bend
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $1036k less ($113,800 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1591/mo less ($935 vs $2,526)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Commutes run 8 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 San Jose by $86,954/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.7%)
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
San Jose
Median Income
$86,954
$136,010 vs $49,056/yr
San Jose
Violent Crime
37% lower
606.8 vs 965.0 per 100k
San Jose
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
South Bend
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$1036k less
$113,800 vs $1,149,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Jose, CA | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,149,600⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,526⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,010 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.8 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 85.5% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Jose Unified | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.8" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Jose's cost of living index is 112.9 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Jose leads 12 of 22 categories. San Jose wins 12 and South Bend wins 10. 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 San Jose to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,149,600 vs $113,800 median home), income ($136,010 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Jose, CA and South Bend, IN are about 1,906 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.