Head-to-Head · City Comparison
South Bend, IN
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 South Bend leads 16 of 23 categories
South Bend
Indiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $465k less ($113,800 vs $578,900)
Rent averages $465/mo less ($935 vs $1,400)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails South Gate by $18,132/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
South Gate, CA
Pros
46% less violent crime than South Bend
Households earn $18,132 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than South Bend
Key Differences at a Glance
South Bend
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$465k less
$113,800 vs $578,900
South Bend
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.9% unemployment
South Gate
Median Income
$18,132
$67,188 vs $49,056/yr
South Gate
Violent Crime
46% lower
525.6 vs 965.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | South Bend, IN | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $113,800 ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $935 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,056 | $67,188 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 254⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.8% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | South Bend Community School Corp | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.8°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.9" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,084 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.5% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
South Bend's cost of living index is 91.4 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 16 of 23 categories. South Bend wins 16 and South Gate wins 7. 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 South Bend to South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($113,800 vs $578,900 median home), income ($49,056 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
South Bend, IN and South Gate, CA are about 1,811 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.