Head-to-Head · City Comparison
South Bend, IN
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 South Bend leads 12 of 23 categories
South Bend
Indiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
103,084
Tacoma
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $302k less ($113,800 vs $415,300)
Rent averages $554/mo less ($935 vs $1,489)
9% less violent crime than Tacoma
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $30,029/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $30,029 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than South Bend
Key Differences at a Glance
South Bend
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Violent Crime
9% lower
965.0 vs 1063.0 per 100k
South Bend
Median Home Value
$302k less
$113,800 vs $415,300
South Bend
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 83.0°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$30,029
$79,085 vs $49,056/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | South Bend, IN | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $113,800 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $935 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,056 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 254⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.8% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | South Bend Community School Corp | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.8°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.9" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.5" | 5.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,084 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.5% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
South Bend's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 12 of 23 categories. South Bend wins 12 and Tacoma 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 South Bend to Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($113,800 vs $415,300 median home), income ($49,056 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
South Bend, IN and Tacoma, WA are about 1,809 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.