Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Ana, CA
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 13 of 21 categories
Santa Ana
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
311,379 ✓ 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.
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,154 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than South Bend
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than South Bend
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $510k less ($113,800 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $950/mo less ($935 vs $1,885)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Ana by $35,154/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
Santa Ana
Median Income
$35,154
$84,210 vs $49,056/yr
Santa Ana
Violent Crime
49% lower
493.1 vs 965.0 per 100k
South Bend
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$510k less
$113,800 vs $624,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Ana, CA | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,000⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,885⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,210 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.9% | 28.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 65.2% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Ana Unified | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 311,379 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Ana's cost of living index is 115.5 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, South Bend leads 13 of 21 categories. Santa Ana wins 8 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 Santa Ana to South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,000 vs $113,800 median home), income ($84,210 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Ana, CA and South Bend, IN are about 1,801 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.