Cleveland vs South Bend
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $102,000 in Cleveland and $140,400 in South Bend.
- Households earn more in South Bend ($55,786 vs $40,801 median).
- Cleveland has the warmer winter: January highs of 35°F vs 31°F.
- South Bend is growing faster: -0.2% since 2020 vs -2.4%.
Side by side
| Cleveland, OH | South Bend, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 363,608 | 103,201 |
| Growth since 2020 | -2.4% | -0.2% |
| People per square mile | 4,678 | 2,463 |
| Median age | 36.3 | 34.8 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22% | 29% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $40,801 | $55,786 |
| Median home value | $102,000 | $140,400 |
| Home value to income | 2.5× | 2.5× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $945 | $1,033 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 93.9 | 92.9 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 79.4 | 74.6 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $70,400 | $69,600 |
| Homeowners | 42% | 60% |
| Top state income tax | 2.75% | 2.95% |
| Combined sales tax | 7.29% | 7% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 22.5 | 20.2 |
| Work from home | 12% | 11% |
| Take public transit | 7% | 2% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 10.8% | 6.5% |
| Poverty rate | 30.6% | 20.8% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 35° / 24° | 31° / 17° |
| July high / low | 81° / 68° | 83° / 62° |
| Precipitation per year | 33 in | 39 in |
| Snowfall per year | 64 in | 65 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 9 | 14 |
| Nights below freezing | 91 | 126 |
| Comfortable months | 6 | 5 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 98.0 | 85.8 |
| Good air days, 2025 | n/a | 66% |
| Home prices, past year | +4.4% | +6.7% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +48.1% | +53.8% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Cleveland: May to October. South Bend: May to September.
Full monthly tables: Cleveland weather by month and South Bend weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $70,400 in Cleveland and $69,600 in South Bend. Moving from Cleveland to South Bend, you would need about $74,100 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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