Head-to-Head · City Comparison
South Bend, IN
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 15 of 23 categories
South Bend
Indiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084
Wilmington
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$58,908 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,933 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $205k less ($113,800 vs $318,600)
Rent averages $278/mo less ($935 vs $1,213)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Wilmington
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Wilmington by $9,852/yr
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Wilmington, NC
Pros
50% less violent crime than South Bend
Households earn $9,852 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.9%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than South Bend
Key Differences at a Glance
South Bend
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$205k less
$113,800 vs $318,600
Wilmington
Median Income
$9,852
$58,908 vs $49,056/yr
Wilmington
Violent Crime
50% lower
482.8 vs 965.0 per 100k
Wilmington
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.5% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | South Bend, IN | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $113,800 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $935 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,056 | $58,908 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 254⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.8% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | South Bend Community School Corp | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.8°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.9" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.5" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,084 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.5% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
South Bend's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 15 of 23 categories. South Bend wins 8 and Wilmington wins 15. 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($113,800 vs $318,600 median home), income ($49,056 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
South Bend, IN and Wilmington, NC are about 688 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.