Head-to-Head · City Comparison
South Bend, IN
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 South Bend leads 14 of 23 categories
South Bend
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $663k less ($113,800 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $1042/mo less ($935 vs $1,977)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $31,215/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Westminster, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,215 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than South Bend
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than South Bend
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
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
$663k less
$113,800 vs $777,100
South Bend
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Westminster
Median Income
$31,215
$80,271 vs $49,056/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
55% lower
436.2 vs 965.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | South Bend, IN | Westminster, 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 | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $935 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,056 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 254⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ 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 | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.8% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | South Bend Community School Corp | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.8°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.9" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,084 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.5% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
South Bend's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 14 of 23 categories. South Bend wins 14 and Westminster wins 9. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($113,800 vs $777,100 median home), income ($49,056 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
South Bend, IN and Westminster, CA are about 1,807 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.