Head-to-Head · City Comparison
South Bend, IN
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 16 of 22 categories
South Bend
Indiana
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084
The Woodlands
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
118,402 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $343k less ($113,800 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $788/mo less ($935 vs $1,723)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than The Woodlands
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $93,328/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $93,328 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than South Bend
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than South Bend
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
South Bend
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$343k less
$113,800 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Median Income
$93,328
$142,384 vs $49,056/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
76% lower
235.4 vs 965.0 per 100k
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | South Bend, IN | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $113,800 ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $935 ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,056 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 254⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.8% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | South Bend Community School Corp | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.8°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.9" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,084 | 118,402 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.5% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.9% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
South Bend's cost of living index is 91.4 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 16 of 22 categories. South Bend wins 6 and The Woodlands wins 16. 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 The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($113,800 vs $456,400 median home), income ($49,056 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
South Bend, IN and The Woodlands, TX are about 947 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.