Head-to-Head · City Comparison
South Bend, IN
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 12 of 22 categories
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 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $201k less ($113,800 vs $314,400)
Rent averages $441/mo less ($935 vs $1,376)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Suffolk
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $38,702/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $38,702 more per year on average
62% less violent crime than South Bend
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.5%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
South Bend
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$201k less
$113,800 vs $314,400
South Bend
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
Suffolk
Median Income
$38,702
$87,758 vs $49,056/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
62% lower
371.0 vs 965.0 per 100k
Suffolk
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | South Bend, IN | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $113,800 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $935 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,056 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 254⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.8% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | South Bend Community School Corp | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.8°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.9" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.5" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,084 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.5% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
South Bend's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 12 of 22 categories. South Bend wins 10 and Suffolk 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 South Bend to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($113,800 vs $314,400 median home), income ($49,056 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
South Bend, IN and Suffolk, VA are about 620 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.